Emissions from European shipping are on the rise and have reached their highest level since official monitoring began in 2018, according to data from Transport & Environment (T&E).

According to the EU’s monitoring system, which tracks emissions from ships of 5,000 gross tons (GT) and above that call at European ports, emissions increased by 13% in 2024—despite a decline in EU maritime trade. One explanation is that disruptions caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea have led to longer shipping routes.

This underscores the importance of EU carbon pricing, writes T&E, which calls for the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to be expanded to include smaller vessels as well. The upcoming review of the system—already showing a compliance rate of around 99% in its first year—will therefore be an important opportunity for the EU to strengthen climate regulation for the shipping sector.

“With the inadequate IMO deal being shelved, the ETS carbon price has never been so crucial", says Agathe Peigney, Shipping Policy Officer at T&E.

The Red Sea disruptions have forced vessels—especially container ships—to take longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope, requiring them to increase speed to maintain delivery schedules. Container ships account for the largest share of the emissions increase, driven by factors such as an 18% longer average sailing distance, 3% higher operational speed, and a larger number of vessels needed to cover the extended routes.

Shipping emissions are extremely sensitive to speed—each 1% increase in speed can lead to a 3% rise in emissions, T&E notes.

Although the use of renewable energy has grown—likely contributing to reduced fossil fuel imports—those imports remain high. Ships transporting fossil fuels still account for about 20% of the EU’s total maritime emissions, the same level as in 2018. Rotterdam remains Europe’s largest seaport for fossil fuel imports.

T&E also points out that the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has risen sharply since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, even though figures show a slight decline in 2024. Meanwhile, emissions from crude oil transport have climbed back to 2019 levels.

"Transporting fossil fuels around represents a double climate blow. Ending our dependency on fossil fuels would remove a chunk of shipping emissions, but that leaves over 80% of emissions still to be decarbonised. Efficiency and green hydrogen-based fuels will be needed to get to zero”, says Agathe Peigney.

The container shipping company MSC remains the largest polluter within the EU, emitting 15.6 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024. Among other types of operators, Grimaldi Group recorded the highest emissions (3.8 million tonnes), while Carnival had the highest emissions among cruise companies (2.5 million tonnes).