SHIPPING between EU ports in the Arctic is driving the rapid loss of sea ice, a study warns, reports Lyon's Euronews.
The study, 'Black Carbon and CO2 Emissions from EU-Regulated Shipping in the Arctic' and is the product of Washington-based the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT).
'Our findings show that ships connected to EU trade, regardless of their flag, are major drivers of black carbon pollution in the Arctic,' said ICCT researcher Liudmila Osipova,
'Recognising these emissions in future policies could help the EU better align its climate goals with its real footprint in the Arctic,' said Ms Osipova.
Between 2015 and 2021, BC emissions in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s definition of the Arctic nearly doubled, according to the study.
About a quarter of these emissions occurred within the IMO definition of the Arctic, indicating a strong growth in BC emissions in the polar area, from 193 tonnes in 2015 to 413 tonnes six years later.
This growth trend is concerning, since one tonne of black carbon has a global warming effect equivalent to 900 tonnes of CO2, as it absorbs more heat in the atmosphere.
Black carbon and CO2 emissions from EU-regulated ships of at least 5,000 gross tonnage were nearly double those from EU-flagged ships in the IMO Arctic in 2021.
That year, nearly three-quarters of the ships operating in the Geographic Arctic and half of those in the IMO Arctic were navigating to or from EU ports.
SeaNews Turkey
The study, 'Black Carbon and CO2 Emissions from EU-Regulated Shipping in the Arctic' and is the product of Washington-based the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT).
'Our findings show that ships connected to EU trade, regardless of their flag, are major drivers of black carbon pollution in the Arctic,' said ICCT researcher Liudmila Osipova,
'Recognising these emissions in future policies could help the EU better align its climate goals with its real footprint in the Arctic,' said Ms Osipova.
Between 2015 and 2021, BC emissions in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s definition of the Arctic nearly doubled, according to the study.
About a quarter of these emissions occurred within the IMO definition of the Arctic, indicating a strong growth in BC emissions in the polar area, from 193 tonnes in 2015 to 413 tonnes six years later.
This growth trend is concerning, since one tonne of black carbon has a global warming effect equivalent to 900 tonnes of CO2, as it absorbs more heat in the atmosphere.
Black carbon and CO2 emissions from EU-regulated ships of at least 5,000 gross tonnage were nearly double those from EU-flagged ships in the IMO Arctic in 2021.
That year, nearly three-quarters of the ships operating in the Geographic Arctic and half of those in the IMO Arctic were navigating to or from EU ports.
SeaNews Turkey
