Standards on Carbon and Water Footprints and their implications for the Maritime Sector

摘要

It is globally accepted that shipping is the least environmentally damaging mode of transport in the viewpoint of energy consumption and CO2 emissions per ton of goods delivered.Nevertheless,there are increasing demands to ship owners to document effectiveness and efficiency in operation,maintenance and repair of their vessels.The discussions around the environmental aspects of shipbuilding are mostly on the local effects,shipping are mostly on greenhouse gas emissions,energy efficiency and air pollution from the operational phase of the ship.The discussions on carbon footprints and water footprints based on a life cycle approach have rarely been taken.This paper aims to identify the meaning of carbon and water footprints in the maritime sector and aspects in the life cycle of a ship where comprehensive methodologies for carbon and water footprint assessment can be useful.The paper will define these two concepts and their meaning for shipping and ship building and the methodologies for accounting the footprints for different system levels.The LCA-methodology is mature and comprehensive and has global warming as one of the impact categories.However,it does not have a universally accepted method of impact assessment for water so far,and this has implications for the environmental assessment of the maritime sector.New ISO standards for calculations of carbon footprints (ISO 14067) and water footprints (ISO 14046) are under development.The life cycle water footprint of maritime activities can be defined as directly and indirectly required amount of water through the whole life period of a ship; from raw material extraction,production of materials,ship construction,ship operation,maintenance and scrapping.This will cover fresh water footprint as well as seawater footprints.Similarly,the life cycle carbon footprint can be calculated and communicated according to specified requirements in the ISO 14067-standard which is expected to be published in 2012.This paper will clarify the expected implications for the maritime sector in a wider perspective.