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A comprehensive structural decomposition analysis of CO2 emissions from vessels: A case study of Japan

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  • Shimotsuura, Taiga

Abstract

The increasing focus on zero-emission vessels highlights the need for environmental analyses from a life-cycle assessment perspective. The present study estimates the carbon footprint (CF) of maritime transport in Japan from 2005 to 2022 by assessing the full vessel life cycle, while excluding the end-of-life stage, under varying vessel lifespan scenarios. Furthermore, this study developed a comprehensive structural decomposition analysis (SDA) to quantify stakeholder contributions at detailed vessel life stages under different lifespan scenarios, thereby facilitating the development of more targeted policies. Extending the average vessel lifespan by 5 years results in a cumulative CF reduction of approximately 1.7 Mt-CO₂ compared to that in the baseline scenario, despite increased vessel repair demand. The SDA results demonstrated that shipyards and shipping companies contributed equally to CF reduction. Comparison of SDA across different lifespan scenarios revealed that lifespan extension is a crucial strategy for CF mitigation, suggesting the need to integrate current CF reduction measures with vessel lifespan extension to maximize environmental benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Shimotsuura, Taiga, 2025. "A comprehensive structural decomposition analysis of CO2 emissions from vessels: A case study of Japan," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:148:y:2025:i:c:s0140988325005018
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108674
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