New tax on ocean-going vessel pollution in 2019

The tax on cars which cause pollution to start in 2018 will be mirrored by another in 2019, this time on ocean-going vessels. The tax is envisaged to be levied on large passenger vessels and cruise liners berthing in Catalan ports as part of the mandate of the law of climate change which is expected to approved in Parliament on Thursday in the last session before the summer holidays begin. It is not the only law pertaining to climate change, since a new regulation that levies taxes on economic activities that generate carbon dioxide will also be imposed. The compromise of splitting the climate change taxes for producers of pollution as well are activities which generate gases was reached between the government and CUP. The income generated by the new taxes will be targeted to fund projects for the protection of the atmospheric environment, including a service connecting ships in port to cleaner energy supplies.

Air pollution from ships is a problem that has increased in recent years with the surge in the cruise sector, particularly at the port of Barcelona, despite the fact that most pollution is caused by large merchant ships. A study by port authorities in autumn 2016 concluded that the activity of the port in general was responsible for 7% of the air pollution in Barcelona.