NGOs Urge EU to Stop Delay of Stricter Ship Emissions Regulations
As the EU Year of Air comes to a close, leading green and health NGOs wrote to European environment ministers urging them to oppose the Russia-led proposed delay of stricter Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions limits at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Environment ministers have a unique opportunity to discuss this issue on December 13th when they meet for the Environment Council, but this issue is not in the agenda.
If unchecked, NOx emitted by ships sailing in European waters is projected to equal and exceed emissions from all land?based sources from 2020. Because much shipping activity occurs close to shore, ship emissions have a significant impact on human health and the environment with studies suggesting air pollution from international shipping cause some 50,000 premature deaths annually in Europe alone.
The original IMO decision was reached unanimously in 2008. The postponement (from 2016 until 2021 and introduced by Russia) was preliminarily agreed in May 2013 and needs to be ratified by a vote of all IMO Countries in April 2014. The lack of a united and ambitious European position on shipping NOx pollution largely explains the preliminary accord on the delay - six EU countries supported Russia: Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Poland.
EU member states collectively own the world’s largest merchant fleet and are thus well placed to take a leading, responsible and united role at the IMO.
The postponement, proposed just two years before the entry into force, would lead to serious environmental setback and also punish EU's clean tech industry. The International Association for Catalytic Control of Ship Emissions to Air (IACCSEA) estimates that since the passing of the IMO standard in 2008, over $1bn has been invested in developing technology solutions for NOx reduction. Engine suppliers and shipbuilders will also be affected by the delay. Moreover, some shipowners have already invested in compliant techonologies ahead of the entry into force of the standards.
Antoine Kedzierski, Clean Shipping Manager at Transport & Environment commented: "Europe has so far been dragging its feet on limiting nitrogen oxides emissions from ships. EU lawmakers shouldn’t reward those who have cynically lobbied for delay and punish those who have chosen to comply by investing in clean technology. The postponement will not only kill high-value jobs in the clean-tech sector but will also increase emissions that soon will surpass all land sources of air pollution."
Read the letter here.