In a descriptive infographic, IMO summarizes key benefits associated with the 2020 sulphur cap. A study on the human health impacts of SOx emissions from ships, submitted to IMO’s MEPC in 2016 by Finland, estimated that by not reducing the SOx limit for ships from 2020, the air pollution from ships would contribute to more than 570,000 additional premature deaths worldwide between 2020-2025.
The facts
- More than 570,000 premature deaths avoided (2020-2025)
- 68% overall reduction in shipping’s negative effect on human health through air pollution
Significant reductions in:
- stroke
- asthma
- cardiovascular disease
- lung cancer
- pulmonary disease
Cutting sulphur emissions helps prevent acid rain, which means:
- less harm to crops, forests and aquatic species
- tackling ocean acidification
Where
- Health benefits felt globally
- Strongest in coastal communities
- Major impact in vulnerable areas: Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America
How
- 0.50% reduced from 3.50%– significantly less sulphur permitted in ships’ fuel
- 77% drop in overall SOx emissions from ships (2020-2025)
When
From 1 January 2020
