Efficient allocation of CO2 allowance in liner companies based on a zero sum gains data envelopment model

The marine emission trading system can effectively reduce the overall carbon emissions of shipping industry at the macro level. However, previous studies on the emission reduction of shipping companies did not solve the problem of annual emission allowance allocation of liner companies from the perspective of technical efficiency. In this paper, the zero sum gains data envelopment model (ZSG-DEA model) is used to propose a most efficient emission allowance allocation mode between eight liner companies with high fleet capacity share based on the data in 2021. The main contributions of this study are as followed:(l) finding that large liner companies, which should have more outstanding performance in emission reduction, still have the demand for emission reduction. (2) The effectiveness of ZSG-DEA model for emission allowance allocation in shipping industry is presented, and the most efficient way of allocation for eight liner companies is obtained through case analysis. The CO2 allowance of all the liner companies reach the ZSG-DEA frontier.