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http://www.epa.gov/international/trade/transport.html Last updated on Tuesday, 12 July, 2011

International Programs
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Trade, Transportation and Environment

Transportation of goods across air, sea and land presents economic opportunities, and also creates significant environmental challenges, including from criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases. EPA is working with our international partners to reduce the environmental impacts of rapidly increasing international trade. Growth of International Trade and Transportation Reducing Air Pollution from International Transportation Additional Resources Growth of International Trade and Transportation The trade of goods, finance, information and people among the worlds economies is not new. But in recent decades the international flow of trade and finance has grown to unprecedented levels and become essential to the world economy. The economic emergence of developing countries (such as Brazil, China and India) has dramatically increased global trade flows overall and also shifted the balance of international trade flows between developed and developing countries. Since 1950, world trade has increased over 20-fold (by value), far exceeding the growth rate for population or GDP. [1] In the United States, the trade-to-GDP ratio (a measure of the share of total GDP made up of international trade) increased from 20.5% in 1990 to 28.7% for 2006-2008, and it is estimated that it could increase to almost 55% of GDP by 2038. [2] When goods are traded internationally, they can be moved over water, air or land. The transport choice depends on the geographic proximity of the trading partners, characteristics of the product to be transported, the relative costs of competing transport modes, and other key facilitating services such as communications. Seaborne transportation carries the majority of all goods traded internationally. Since the 1970s, seaborne trade has grown 4% each year.
International trade has become an important component of the GDPs of most nations, as shown by the international trade-to-GDP ratios for various members of the World Trade Organization. (Source: World Trade Organization, International Trade Statistics 2008.) Brazil Canada China European Union (EU-27) India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Mexico United States 26.2% 70.9% 73.4% 27.9% 47.6% 60.4% 34.3% 205.9% 58.3% 28.7%

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Aviation, the dominant mode of international passenger transportation, is also a critical provider of rapid transportation for high-value and/or time-sensitive goods. Since 1970, the volume of cargo sent by air has grown 9% each year. In the case of neighboring countries, notably nations in Europe and North America, land-based modes (e.g. trucking, rail, pipelines) also move very large volumes of goods in trade. Reducing Air Pollution from International Transportation Because of their reliance on petroleum-based fuels and their dramatic growth rates in recent decades, air and sea transport are responsible for significant emissions of both traditional (criteria) air pollutants (e.g. sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx)) and greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide (CO2)). International seaborne and airborne transportation are estimated to produce perhaps more than 7% of total global CO2 emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels at present. [3] But compared to other transport modes, these have few options for transitioning to other fuels in the near- to medium-term. EPA, industry, and other entities in the U.S. and abroad have taken a number of regulatory and voluntary steps to reduce domestic emissions from maritime shipping and aviation. These efforts have resulted in some emissions reductions here and abroad. However, because of the very nature of these transportation modes (operating largely outside of national boundaries), domestic actions alone cannot control the energy consumption of, or emissions from, these sectors. Reducing traditional "criteria" air pollutants (e.g., NOx, SOx, PM): Working internationally, the U.S. and other countries have established stringent marine fuel quality and engine emissions standards for international shipping under the auspices of Annex VI of the IMOs International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). By acting through the IMO, the specialized agency for maritime affairs within the United Nations system, we have achieved dramatic reductions in maritime emissions of criteria air pollutants, while avoiding distortions or disruptions of international trade flows.
Transportation Modal Shares of World Trade and U.S. Trade with the World, 2008 (source: IHS Global Services) Seaborne Airborne Overland/Other World Trade 1. By volume (millions 89.79% of metric tons) 2. By value (billions of dollars) U.S. Trade with the Rest of the World 1. By volume (millions 78.05% of metric tons) 2. By value (billions of dollars)

0.25%

9.96%

72.71%

12.97%

14.32%

0.44%

21.51%

48.47% 26.66% 24.87% Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and saving energy: In recent decades, industry and government have managed to improve the energy efficiency of ships and airplanes to a considerable degree. This has been driven by many factors, including

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a desire to address rising fuel prices. EPA, other governmental entities, and key industry players have been working on this via internal development of new technologies, voluntary partnerships, and coordinated action undertaken in the technical agencies responsible for international maritime and aviation matters within the United Nations system: the IMO and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). However, there remains considerable potential for using technical and operational measures to further reduce energy consumption (and thus, emissions) from both ships and airplanes. Despite advances to date, the projected growth in global economic activity and resulting increase in demand for international transportation of goods mean that technical and operational measures alone will not suffice to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below business as usual levels. [4] This conclusion holds even after accounting for the global economic downturn that began in late 2008. Thus, the U.S. is again partnering internationally to establish binding, globally-applicable policies to limit emissions from these transport sectors while avoiding undesirable trade distortions or constraints. Additional Resources EPA's Ocean Vessels and Large Ships and Clean Ports USA pages: Information about our achievements in controlling traditional air pollution emissions from maritime shipping that affect U.S. air quality, as well as our work in the IMO on these pollutants. EPA's Aircraft page: Our achievements in controlling traditional air pollution emissions from aviation sources. A voluntary toolkit assists ports wishing to quantify and control emissions of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases from their operations. This toolkit was developed by leading ports in the U.S. and other countries, through the International Association of Ports and Harbours, The U.S. Coast Guards IMO web page has information about the U.S. delegation at IMO and its work with MEPC and other committees. The U.S. State Department Climate Page highlights a range of U.S.-initiated climate policies and partnerships. International Climate Policy: describes international climate-related efforts in which the United States is engaged. Global Climate Information: provides a wealth of climate-related references. References cited on this page: 1. International Transport Forum (ITF), Transport for a Global Economy: Policy Reflections from the Secretariat, ITF Forum 2009, 26-29 May 2009. 2. IHS Global Insight, An Evaluation of Maritime Policy in Meeting the Commercial and Security Needs of the United States, January 7, 2009. 3. by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other entities 4. David McCollum, Gregory Gould and David Greene, Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Aviation and Maritime Transportation: Mitigation Potential and Policies, prepared for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, December 2009. Back to: Trade

Contacts For additional information on EPA's International Trade efforts, contact:

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Joe Ferrante U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of International and Tribal Affairs (2670R) 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20460 E-mail: ferrante.joe@epa.gov

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