The Clean Arctic Alliance has called on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to take urgent action to curb climate impacts on the Arctic, by delivering meaningful short-term measures that would kick-start dramatic reductions in global greenhouse gas (GHG) and black carbon emissions from shipping this decade.
The call comes as a meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 78) opens this week. The committee will hold a virtual session from 6 June to 10 June.
The MEPC 78 will see the IMO address short-term measures to reduce GHG emissions, mid-term measures including strengthening the carbon intensity indicator for ships and start considering a revision of the IMO’s GHG strategy.
In addition, a proposal for a new emission control area covering the Mediterranean waters, which if agreed will reduce SOx and black carbon emissions in the region, will be on the table for approval during the meeting.
Sian Prior, lead advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, made up of 20 not-for-profit organisations, said: “The IMO must improve its levels of ambition in the recently agreed short-term carbon intensity reduction measures including a 1.5°C -compatible improvement in the carbon intensity of ships, and revise its climate targets to ensure a 50% reduction in CO2e emissions by 2030, and full decarbonisation by 2040.
“Only with concrete measures and immediate action to reduce emissions this decade do we have any hope of remaining below 1.5° C heating globally, which is essential if we are to retain sea ice in the Arctic throughout the summer in the 2030s.
“To avert the worst impacts on an already over-heating Arctic, the IMO must also make immediate cuts to black carbon emissions from shipping in and near the Arctic, as well as reducing the industry’s global emissions of black carbon.
A switch to using distillate fuels in and near the Arctic would quickly reduce black carbon emissions by around 44% – practically overnight, while adding diesel particulate filters would reduce black carbon by over 90% – and that should be feasible before 2030.”
Source: World Maritime News
