The Department for Transport is seeing views and evidence on the best path to net-zero emissions in 2050 for the domestic maritime sector, including where there is opportunity to accelerate decarbonisation across sub-sectors.

Transport is the largest contributor to the UK's domestic greenhouse gas emissions and while shipping is generally a relatively carbon efficient mode for transporting freight, UK domestic maritime vessels represent around 5% of the UK's domestic transport green house emissions in 2020; more than domestic rail and bus emissions combined. It is therefore crucial that the government has a credible plan to decarbonise the sector.

Setting the 'Course to Zero' for the domestic maritime sector is a unique opportunity. It is a chance for the industry and maritime experts to share their ideas, experiences and concerns with the government. This consultation aims to:

1. To seek views and evidence on the optimal pathway to net zero emissions in 2050, including where there is scope to accelerate decarbonisation. The objective is to capture the vital insights of the UK’s domestic maritime sector across all its sub-sector
2. To gather productive feedback about the remaining barriers to maritime decarbonisation.
3. To collect views on the various additional policy options which could be employed to address these barriers, building on the government’s current approach. It is also to provide a space for respondents to present any other ideas or views, which may be helpful to the wider domestic maritime decarbonisation project and have not yet been explored or discussed by thegovernment.

The conclusions drawn from this consultation will help to determine the core policy agenda for domestic maritime decarbonisation. Both the indicative targets and policy measures will be presented in a refreshed Clean Maritime Plan, due to be published in 2023.

Deadline for responses is 6th October 2022. Click here to access the consultation document.