Ferries in Europe emit more CO2 than 6.6 million cars. Which ports are the worst culprits?

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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A new report from NGO Transport & Environment finds that Europe’s ferry fleet emitted 13.4 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2023, roughly the same annual emissions as 6.6 million cars
• In several port cities, including Barcelona, Dublin and Naples, ferries produce more toxic sulphur oxide (SOx) pollution than all local cars combined

🔭 The context: Europe operates more than 1,000 ferries, many of which are aging vessels running on heavy fossil fuels
• The study highlights that the average ferry in Europe is 26 years old, contributing significantly to both climate emissions and harmful air pollution in densely populated port areas
• Dublin currently records the highest SOx exposure from ferry emissions, followed by Las Palmas and Holyhead

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Maritime transport is a growing source of greenhouse gases and air pollutants
• Electrifying ferries or switching to hybrid systems could cut ferry CO₂ emissions by up to 42%, helping reduce both climate pollution and harmful air contaminants in coastal cities, a key step in decarbonizing Europe’s transport sector

⏭️ What’s next: New maritime fuel rules in the North-East Atlantic will tighten sulphur limits from 2027, potentially shifting pollution patterns across ports
• Experts say accelerating ferry electrification and investing in charging infrastructure could allow up to 60% of Europe’s ferry fleet to operate on batteries by 2035

💬 One quote: “Ferries should connect communities, not pollute them.” - Felix Klann, a shipping policy officer at Transport & Environment

📈 One stat: Europe’s ferry fleet emitted 13.4 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2023, equivalent to the emissions of 6.6 million cars

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