Since last week, heads of state from 195 countries have been meeting in Paris to discuss the signing of an agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The aim is that, at the end of the COP21, each nation has established an emission reduction target that will guide actions in the country for the coming years. One issue, however, has been causing controversy since before the Climate Conference and is a reason for protest among several activists: CO emissions2 arising from air and sea transport.
Figure 1 – Website banner created by activists who want to draw attention to issues related to emissions from the maritime and aviation sectors
Source: http://www.elephantsintheroom.eu/
The aviation and shipping industries are responsible for more than 5% of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. If together they formed a country, they would be the 6th most polluting country in the world, emitting more CO2 than Germany and the United Kingdom, for example (See Figure 2). Continuing at the current pace, it is expected that carbon dioxide from air and sea transport will represent 32% of the entire volume emitted in the world in 2050. Despite the large numbers, it is believed that COP21 will come to an end on the same day. December 11th without these sectors of the economy being regulated and having emission reduction targets.
Figure 2 – CO2 emissions by country/organ in 2014
Source: Adapted from EDGAR (Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research)
For years, attempts have been made to regulate CO emissions.2 these sectors, but all attempts failed. One of the biggest difficulties in doing this is the result of the supranational nature of these activities, that is, more than one country is involved in transport, making it difficult to allocate emissions to a nation. As an example, the case of the Netherlands can be mentioned. The port of Rotterdam is the main one in Europe and through it most of the continent's cargo is dispatched. If emissions from shipping were to be allocated to the country where the material was shipped, the Netherlands would be hugely disadvantaged.
UN agencies responsible for sea and air transport, IMO e ICAO, respectively, were responsible for pursuing the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the signature of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. However, despite some recommendations, no regulation was defined, as the leaders of the agencies fear that measures like this reduce the efficiency of modes or limit the capacity of sectors, preventing the demand created by the world economy from being met.
With increasing concern about global warming year after year, pressures on the maritime and aviation industry will increase and concrete action must be taken. Modernization of fleets, implementation of technologies for more efficient use of fuel and use of alternative fuels are examples of initiatives that have already been implemented and that should become mandatory over time. It is enough to know how urgently the matter will be dealt with, as the environment is already showing signs that it will not wait long.
References
<http://epocanegocios.globo.com/Mundo/noticia/2015/12/entenda-o-que-esta-em-jogo-na-cop21.html>
<http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/overview.php?v=CO2ts1990-2014&sort=des9>
Fernanda Monteiro
More than 11 years of experience in training and consultancy projects, focusing on Logistics and Supply Chain. In consultancy, he carried out projects such as Transformational Logistics Plan, Diagnosis of logistics operations, Strategy and Calendarization of Transport Operations, Measuring the Cost of Serving, Market Study, Mapping of Inventory Reduction Opportunities, Review of the S&OP Process, Management Plan Training and Implementation of Commercial Processes in companies such as Nestlé, Raia Drogasil, Ipiranga, Lojas Americanas, B2W, Coca-Cola, Andina, Embraco, Martins Atacado, Loja do Mecânico, Santo Antônio Energia, Ecoporto and Silimed. She is currently one of the teachers of the Inventory Management Course taught every six months by ILOS. She worked on the development and management of Online Courses in Logistics and Supply Chain, Supply Processes, Demand Planning, Inventory Management and Industrial Management. Still in the training area, she was responsible for applying ILOS business games in companies such as Raia Drogasil, Fibria, NEC, Novartis and Moove.
