UK Emissions Trading Scheme: Ferries
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, a) what estimate his Department has made of the average additional cost per passenger ticket on domestic ferry services arising from the inclusion of domestic maritime within the UK Emissions Trading Scheme from 2026; b) what estimate has been made of the average additional cost per vehicle crossing; and c) whether these estimates vary by route type, including island-mainland, short-sea, and longer-distance domestic routes.
Answered by Chris McDonald
The Government has not produced estimates of the additional cost per passenger ticket arising from the inclusion of domestic maritime within the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.
The Impact Assessment considers costs at sector-level rather than by route or fare type, as ticket prices and commercial decisions vary widely and cannot be robustly modelled.
The Assessment finds compliance costs are modest relative to operators’ overall costs and does not identify significant consumer price impacts, but notes early evidence from the EU Emissions Trading System suggesting short‑sea shipping routes and ferry fares increased by 3-11% under comparable carbon pricing.
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