It has been claimed that regulations relating to emissions from ships could be put in place by the European Union (EU) within the next five years.

According to Michael Woods, co-chair of the UK Environmental Law Association's climate change working party, the EU is considering how to bring the shipping industry into its efforts to tackle emissions and plans could be in place to bring ships under new regulations by 2012.

Speaking to Edie News, Mr Woods warned that, while there remain many questions to be answered on how the industry would be required to tackle its emissions, EU chiefs are keen to include the shipping sector in their efforts to lower emissions in the region.

He added that the industry needs to be taking a lead on this issue so that it can get in on the debates at the beginning and ensure that it has a hand in any policy decisions that are made.

"I expect there will be a policy punch-up between the likes of the EU, the International Maritime Organisation, the US and the UN in terms of how things should move forward," Mr Woods concluded.

Source:

EU could regulate shipping emissions by 2012, lawyers warn, 5/10/07
http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=13618&channel=6

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