Tag: black carbon

If Black Carbon was covered under “Fit for 55,” it could help reduce BC emissions from ships that call on EU ports, including those that sail the Arctic, suggest Dr. Liudmila Osipova and Dr. Bryan Comer, ICCT.

The threat to the Arctic from black carbon from shipping has been known for some time – and what happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. When black carbon, is emitted from the exhausts of ships and settles onto snow and ice, it accelerates melting and the loss of reflectivity.

Responding to the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, Clean Arctic Alliance called IMO to make immediate cuts to black carbon emissions from shipping in the Arctic.

Non-governmental organisations are calling on the IMO to immediately reduce climate-warming emissions of black carbon from ships currently using heavy fuel oil in the Arctic by some 44%, by switching them to cleaner distillate fuels. 

Environmental group HFO-Arctic highlights the importance of reducing the impact of shipping in the region, referring to data showing an increase in black carbon emissions.

Now that the sulphur cap is effective, blending is the only economical method to produce low sulphur fuels, states Mr. Francisco Malta, Director at VM Industrials - Aderco Australia who explains that VLSFOs could increase black carbon emissions because of paraffinic hydrocarbons; thus, shipping industry needs to focus on fuel stability and address all issues.

Following the letter of several shipping companies to Clean Arctic Alliance (CAA) about the VLSFO black carbon emissions matter, the association gave its respond by writing an open letter. Specifically, Clean Arctic Alliance seeks for greater engagement and cooperation between all the stakeholders.

Organizations and companies from the shipping, bunkering and refining industry wrote an open letter to Dr Sian Prior of the Clean Arctic Alliance (CAA), in response to the claims that shipping’s use of IMO 2020-compliant very flow sulphur fuel oils (VLSFOs) could increase black carbon emissions, coming from vessels.

The Clean Arctic Alliance has called the IMO to support an immediate switch to distillate fuels for ships in the Arctic and develop a global rule prohibiting fuels with high Black Carbon emissions, after a study revealing that some of the new VLSFOs will actually lead to a surge in the emissions of Black Carbon. 

A newly-launched study focuses on the importance of reducing shipping emissions and its benefits in favour of humans' health, nature and the environment by reducing vessels' speed. The report highlights that a 20% reduction in vessels' speed would decrease GHG emissions, as well as curb pollutants that pose great risks on human health, as black carbon and nitrogen oxides.