As this week’s meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84, April 27-May 1) closes, the Clean Arctic Alliance called on Arctic and climate-vulnerable states to lead on ramping up efforts to regulate black carbon emissions from international shipping by defining the geographical extent for the IMO’s polar fuel measure – to help understand the measure’s impact.
The Alliance welcomed adoption of the North East Atlantic Emission Control Area, along with some progress made on underwater noise and marine pollution from scrubbers.
“To curb black carbon emissions in the Arctic, IMO member states must spend the coming months deliberating over the appropriate geographic scope for such a polar fuel concept, in order to ensure effectiveness of the proposed measure – countries need to know where on shipping charts that the rules will apply”, said Dr Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance.
“Despite the current geopolitical and energy turmoil, Arctic governments must take the lead on polar fuels in order to drive the reduction of black carbon emissions in the Arctic. They must work closely with other IMO members on defining the geographic application of a new measure between now and the conclusion of November’s MEPC 85, so they can submit a new or amended proposal to an IMO meeting in early 2027 – PPR 14”, said Prior.
Black Carbon and Polar Fuels Measure
A paper submitted to MEPC 84 by eNGOs, International efforts to reduce emissions of Black Carbon, provides IMO member states with evidence that can underpin action to curb the impact on the Arctic of emissions of black carbon from international shipping.
The paper, which MEPC 84 referred to a future IMO meeting, PPR 14, comments on the latest polar fuel concept discussions, and highlights ongoing research and a number of recent initiatives focused on reducing black carbon emissions from a variety of sources due to the impact on climate, on the environment and communities and on the Arctic.
The Arctic is warming four times faster than elsewhere on Earth; in March, Arctic winter sea ice tied for its lowest measured level. Black carbon is a short-lived climate pollutant, produced by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels, and accelerates melting if deposited onto snow and ice and has a disproportionate impact when released in and near to the Arctic (more information below).
The European State of the Climate 2025 report by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts published earlier this week shows that in 2025 as well as a significant reduction in snow and ice cover across Europe (including some parts of the Arctic) the Greenland ice sheet lost around 139 gigatonnes of ice and that glaciers in Europe saw a net mass loss, with the most negative mass balances observed in Iceland. The report confirms the Arctic as the fastest-warming region on Earth.
“Despite the current geopolitical and energy turmoil, Arctic governments must take the lead on polar fuels in order to drive the reduction of black carbon emissions in the Arctic. They must work closely with other IMO members on defining the geographic application of a new measure between now and the conclusion of November’s MEPC 85, so they can submit a new or amended proposal to an IMO meeting in early 2027 – PPR 14”, said Prior.
Source: Emission Control Areas
