British Marine has welcomed the publication of Carbon Budget 7 (CB7) by the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC), which sets out, for the first time, a clear decarbonisation pathway for the marine, maritime and shipping sectors. Crucially for the UK’s leisure marine industry, the CCC has formally recognised the need for access to biofuels as an essential transitional fuel to help decarbonise the sector – a direct result of sustained input from British Marine and its members.
The Climate Change Committee, the UK’s independent adviser on tackling climate change, published CB7 on 26 February 2025. Covering the period 2038-2042, CB7 sets out a balanced pathway for reducing emissions across marine, maritime and shipping. For the leisure marine sector, this includes a crucial acknowledgement that:
‘By 2050 in the Balanced Pathway, half of the inland waterways and leisure vessel fleet decarbonises by switching to electric drive-technology which is already being deployed today. The other half of this fleet switches to biofuels.’
This recognition is vital for the leisure marine sector, where existing vessels with long lifespans need practical, low-carbon fuel alternatives to remain in use while technology solutions for harder-to-decarbonise vessel types continue to evolve. Biofuels, which can be used in existing engines with minimal modification, offer an essential bridging solution.
British Marine was instrumental in ensuring that the CCC had the critical data and evidence required to reach this decision. This evidence was drawn directly from the work British Marine and a small number of its members, including Princess Yachts, carried out supporting ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Industry Associations) and international partners in the international research project “Pathways to Propulsion”.
The Pathways to Propulsion project identified the environmental evidence base underpinning the case for alternative fuels, including biofuels, within the global leisure marine sector. British Marine, through its active involvement, ensured the unique challenges and opportunities for the UK leisure fleet were fully represented. The project’s final report was submitted directly to the CCC as evidence – influencing CB7’s final recommendations and safeguarding the future of existing vessels.
ICOMIA, CEO, Joe Lynch commented: “This is a powerful example of the leisure marine industry working together across borders to ensure policy is grounded in real-world data and technical evidence. British Marine’s proactive contribution ensured the UK leisure marine sector’s specific needs, with its unique characteristics, were understood and considered. This outcome underlines the importance of long-term, collaborative projects like Propelling Our Future, where industry and policy can align to build realistic pathways to net zero.”
British Marine’s Chief Executive Officer, Lesley Robinson, added: “This is a fantastic example of the vital work British Marine does on behalf of its members. By bringing together industry knowledge, technical expertise and global collaboration, we ensured that the CCC understood both the opportunities and the challenges the leisure marine sector faces on the journey to net zero. This recognition of biofuels is a direct result of that hard work – and it means we have secured a practical, evidence-led pathway that will support our industry’s sustainable future.”
Looking ahead, British Marine continues to play a leading role in the industry’s sustainability journey. The association is currently working with a select group of members to support the Blue Boat Horizon project – a collaboration with EBI, ICOMIA and NMMA – to develop the first-ever industry-led Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. This methodology will help UK and global marine businesses meet future environmental product legislation, ensuring sustainability is embedded at every stage of the product lifecycle.
This latest success underlines the critical importance of British Marine’s work, ensuring that UK leisure marine businesses – from boatbuilders to marinas and equipment manufacturers – are not only represented, but actively shaping the policies and regulations that will define their future.
Read more about The UK Climate Change Committee carbon budget and the Leisure Marine Sector here – https://www.britishmarine.co.uk/resources/decarbonisation-hub/carbon-budget-7
Learn more about British Marine’s commitment to helping members successfully navigate the transition to Net Zero by 2050 by visiting the Decarbonisation Hub – https://www.britishmarine.co.uk/resources/decarbonisation-hub
