Is North Atlantic the next emission control area for shipping?

November 14, 2024, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), Germany’s ‘oldest and largest’ environmental association, is urging the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to establish an emission control area in the North Atlantic.

As part of an international coalition that has already successfully contributed to the establishment of an ECA in the Mediterranean, NABU said it is committed to an ECA in the North Atlantic (AtlECA).

The proposed area would be “the largest of its kind” and stretch from Portugal to Greenland. It would include the sea areas of the Faroe Islands, France, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. More than 190 million people live here and are particularly at risk from air pollutants from shipping.

A new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) found that an emissions control area in the North Atlantic could prevent up to 4,300 premature deaths. The cumulative economic benefits of this health benefit could amount to up to €29 billion. These ranges for health and economic benefits depend on the fuels and technologies used to comply with the ECA: the benefits would be highest if ships switch to distillate fuels instead of opting for scrubbers or desulfurized fuel oil, according to ICCT.

Air pollution has been identified as a major global health hazard. Maritime shipping has traditionally relied on large diesel engines fueled by heavy fuel oil, which emit harmful air pollutants like sulfur oxides (SO_X) and nitrogen oxides (NO_X). These pollutants adversely affect air quality, particularly in coastal areas, and significantly contribute to the formation of fine particulate matter. One way to mitigate this impact is to establish an ECA.

An emissions control area is a region in which strict regulations on air pollution control apply to ships. Air pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are significantly reduced. In addition, conventional heavy fuel oil may not be used. This not only prevents emissions of air pollutants but also drastically reduces the risk of an oil spill.

“The establishment of the emission control area will significantly reduce harmful emissions and improve public health for residents of coastal communities. The AtlECA could prevent thousands of premature deaths while bringing long-term economic and environmental benefits,” Liudmila Osipova, ICCT Senior Researcher and Project Leader of the study, pointed out.

In addition to the health benefits, the emission control area also protects marine ecosystems and natural and cultural heritage sites. The planned area includes more than 1,500 marine protected areas, 17 important habitats for marine mammals and 148 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

“Reducing shipping emissions will make a significant contribution to reducing ocean acidification and pollution. Toxic heavy fuel oil can no longer be burned here without further ado,” Sönke Diesener, NABU Shipping Expert, explained.

“The study provides important findings that support the ongoing political decision-making process. The introduction of an ECA in the North Atlantic is a significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of shipping. We welcome the plan of the coastal states to submit the application and study to the UN IMO as soon as possible.”

The proposal will be submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in spring 2025 together with the ICCT study, which collaborated with Porto University.

Examples of successful ECAs can already be found in the North and Baltic Seas and, from 2025, in the Mediterranean region.