North Atlantic emission control area could save 4,000 lives over next two decades
A proposal for an area stretching from western Europe to North America will be submitted to the IMO’s MEPC
The area would mean much stricter limits for vessels travelling within it on SOx and NOx emissions, which contribute to the formation of particulate matter and worsen air quality
A NEW emissions control area stretching across the North Atlantic will be proposed to the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee.
The result of two studies published by the International Council on Clean Transport in collaboration with Porto University, the proposed area stretches from the Atlantic coasts of western Europe around the Greenland coastline, where it will meet the established ECA’s of the US and Canada.
One ICCT study estimated that the North Atlantic Emissions Control Area (AtlCEA) could prevent between 118 to 176 premature deaths in 2030 alone, through the reduction in NOx, SOx and PM 2.5 emissions. That total rises to between 2,900 and 4,300 preventable deaths when the range is increased to 2030 to 2050, which will in turn mean up to €29bn ($30.7bn) in economic benefits.
The most premature deaths would be avoided in Portugal, the UK and the Faroe Islands, the ICCT said.
A 2018 study estimated global shipping emissions were responsible for 266,300 premature deaths in 2020 after the implementation of low-sulphur fuel regulations, around 0.5% of global mortality for the year. Without those IMO rules, that number would have exceeded 400,000.
Alongside the reduction in premature deaths, the ICCT said the AtlCEA would encompass more than 1,500 marine protected areas and 17 important marine mammal habitats.
The success of the AtlCEA is, however, dependent on how vessels comply. The best results would be achieved if vessels switched to distillate fuels instead of ultra-low sulphur fuel oil or scrubbers.
The so-called MGO Mix scenario (which assumes most vessels switch to marine gas oil rather than scrubber systems and VLSFO) presented by the ICCT shows the AtlCEA would mitigate 86% of shipping’s sulphur dioxide emissions, 59% of PM 2.5 emissions and 3% of nitrogen dioxide emissions.
ICCT project lead Liudmila Osipova said the new ECA was “an opportunity to significantly reduce harmful emissions and improve public health for those living in coastal communities”.
“We have found that the North Atlantic Emission Control Area could prevent thousands of premature deaths, while also delivering long-term economic and environmental benefits.”
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