Sustainable Transport and the Environment Guide - Unite the Union

lorries but do not operated in the hire and reward sector. Overall greenhouse gas
emissions peaked in 2004 at 27.45 millions tonnes.
Emissions from international aviation and shipping can be estimated from refuelling
from bunkers at ports (whether by UK or non-UK operators).
Emissions from UK shipping bunker fuel use are around the same as they were in
1990, but UK operators purchase most of their fuel outside the UK. So these figures
do not capture any increases in shipping fuels purchased abroad which have most
likely increased substantially over the period.
Under the guidelines agreed for UNFCCC, reporting emission from international
shipping are not included in the UK’s emissions, but these estimates are reported as
memo items in national greenhouse gas inventories. Parties to the UNFCCC are
required to act to limit or reduce emissions from international services working
through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
4.4: Ports
In total there are more than 650 ports in the UK for which statutory harbour authority
powers have been granted, of which around 120 are commercially active. They range
from ports such as the Port of London, which extends 95 miles from Teddington to
the North Sea, to small harbour trusts responsible for quays, piers and other facilities
which are only of local significance.
Water Transport Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990- 2006
29000
27000
25000
'000 tonnes
23000
21000
19000
17000
15000
1990 1995 2000 2005
Year
Figure 4.1: Water Transport Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990 -
2006
The UK ports industry is the largest in Europe in terms of freight tonnage.
It is estimated that around 95 per cent by volume and 75 per cent by value of the UK’s
international trade is transported by sea. In 2007, total UK imports across all transport
50