Ice Melt Drives Earth's Sea Level Rise "Reducing black carbon emissions would help slow the meltdown", says Kay Brown, Arctic Policy Director at Pacific Environment.
IMO Approves Proposal for New Emission Control Areas in Norwegian and Canadian Arctic Waters In a significant step to protect Arctic and sub-Arctic waters from harmful emissions the International Maritime Organization moved forward with two new Emission Control Areas. The measures could enter into effect as early as March 2026.
Polar Code May Need Updating as Arctic Shipping Increases New Study Concludes With more ships venturing across the Arctic, especially in marginal conditions during winter and spring, Polar Code rules may have to be expanded, a new report suggests. Shipping experts also caution that Russia may not be enforcing the existing rules as it sends a growing number of vessels through its Arctic waters.
Environmental Group Warns EU About to Remove Black Carbon From Maritime Regulation The EU Council could remove mentions of black carbon emissions in the Arctic from the EU’s maritime regulation this week. Environmental activists warn that black carbon is detrimental to Arctic sea ice and needs to be curbed quickly and decisively.
IMO Updates Guidelines on Noise Pollution, But no Mandatory Rules for the Arctic The International Maritime Organization took incremental steps to protecting marine environments, including in the Arctic, from noise pollution. The voluntary measures, however, do not go far enough, say environmental groups and the Inuit Circumpolar Council, especially for the Arctic Ocean’s sensitive ecosystem.
Environmental Coalition Urges Canada and Russia to Implement Prohibition on HFO in the Arctic Environmental advocates criticize Russia’s and Canada’s decision to reject or delay the implementation of a new regulation that will ban the use and carriage of HFO in the Arctic starting in mid-2024.
Russia and Canada Opt Out of Voluntary Heavy Fuel Oil Ban for Arctic Russia and Canada will not be acceding to the International Maritime Organization’s 2024 prohibition on heavy fuel oil. Canada’s move is likely only temporary until it can formally adopt the underlying agreement, while Russia aims to use heavy fuel oil for at least five more years.
IMO Again Fails to Act on Black Carbon Emissions in Arctic As Arctic shipping continues to increase so do emissions from maritime transport. Over the past five years black carbon emissions in the Arctic have more than doubled. Hopes to establish binding regulations to reduce this type of pollutant contributing to global warming were dashed this week.
IMO Again Fails to Act on Black Carbon Emissions in Arctic As Arctic shipping continues to increase so do emissions from maritime transport. Over the past five years black carbon emissions in the Arctic have more than doubled. Hopes to establish binding regulations to reduce this type of pollutant contributing to global warming were dashed this week.
IMO Adopts Voluntary Measures to Reduce Black Carbon Emissions in Arctic Black carbon emissions from maritime shipping have a disproportionate effect on climate change and the environment in the Arctic. Now the IMO is taking first, albeit voluntary, steps to address the issue.
Proposed Arctic Heavy Fuel Oil Ban Ineffective New Study Warns Just three months before the International Maritime Organization will finalize a ban on the carriage and use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic, new research suggests that the proposed regulation would be highly ineffective at reducing heavy fuel oil use and Black Carbon emissions in the Arctic.
Greenlandic Shipping Company Royal Arctic Line Faces Criticism For Planning to Use Heavy Fuel Oil Until 2029 Greenland’s state-owned shipping operator Royal Arctic Line faces criticism after the company’s CEO voiced concern about the timeline of the IMO’s newly proposed ban on Heavy Fuel Oil.
IMO Moves Forward with Ban of Arctic HFO But Exempts Some Vessels Until 2029 The IMO agreed on a draft regulation which would phase out the use and carriage of HFO in the Arctic starting in 2024. Environmental groups criticize loopholes which delay the ban until 2029 for Arctic-flagged vessels.
Liquefied Natural Gas Not the Solution to Cleaning up International Shipping Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping may have hit a roadblock. A new study suggests that using LNG, long seen as a less-dirty alternative, may in fact cause more emissions than using traditional marine fuels.
IMO Mandate For Low Sulphur Fuel Results in High Black Carbon Emissions Endangering Arctic In an effort to reduce sulphur emissions in marine transport new rules require a switch from heavy fuel oil to very low sulphur fuel oil. Now scientists and environmentalists are sounding the alarm as this new type of fuel can unexpectedly result in high levels of black carbon – a pollutant especially harmful to the Arctic environment.
Expedition Cruise Operators Formalize Ban on Dirty Heavy Fuel Oil in the Arctic While the IMO has not been successful in its attempts, expedition cruise operators have now formalized a self-imposed ban on the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic. Environmental organizations praise the decision.
European Union Adopts Ban on Fishing in the Arctic The European Union has ratified an agreement to prevent unregulated fishing in the high seas of Arctic and joins nine countries in an effort to protect the Central Arctic Ocean.
Rosatom Comments on Status of Floating Nuclear Power Plant - But Questions Remain In an interview with High North News, Rosatom answered questions about the status of its Floating Nuclear Power Plant, but some questions regarding the safety of Akademik Lomonosov remain. The plant is scheduled to be towed to the Arctic port of Pevek and begin electricity generation by the end of 2019.
