EU shipping emissions rose in 2025. The ships did not emit more. The reported increase comes entirely from vessels that entered the reporting rules in 2025; follow the same ships through both years and emissions fell. Below the CO₂ line, methane rose sharply as LNG dual fuel ships reached the water, and from 2026 that methane becomes billable, pushing the maritime EU ETS bill toward 100 million allowances. For owners and charterers, the headline MRV number is only the starting point. The exposure sits behind it.
The full storyWe are excited to see the first version of Climate TRACE world emissions map and intelligence being published, and proud to say that Siglar Carbon played a small part, reviewing their maritime prediction model. We share the goal of making emissions insight available, because effective decarbonization starts with detailed knowledge of emissions sources – also in the maritime industry.
The European Union proposes a basket of measures to decarbonise the maritime industry, which will influence freight rates in different ways. Shipping emissions will become a cost element in freight negotiations and a part of ship owners, brokers and cargo owners' everyday business.
The European Union’s “Fit for 55”-package proposes to decarbonize shipping by imposing a first-ever greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity limit on ship energy usage, a minimum tax on bunker fuels and a requirement to pay for shipping emissions in the emissions trading system (ETS) from 2023, with a full phase-in by 2026.
