Governments and the shipping industry must respond to the new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) regarding the limit on temperature increase. This report warns of the serious dangers of temperature rise above 1.5 degrees Celsius and the urgent need to reduce pollutants. In this context, Dr. Sian Prior, senior advisor to the Clean Arctic Coalition, emphasized the necessity of rapid pollutant reduction, especially in the shipping industry.
Rapid actions in the shipping industry
Dr. Prior stated: "The shipping industry and member countries of the International Maritime Organization must seize this opportunity and take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions means ending the fossil fuels used to power ships. This industry must quickly move towards carbon reduction."
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The UNEP report emphasizes that a global response in the short term to reduce temperatures requires deep reductions in gas emissions, including methane and other short-lived pollutants like black carbon. Reducing black carbon emissions from ships will have an immediate impact on climate change, especially in the Arctic region.
Consequences of black carbon for health and climate
Black carbon is a short-lived pollutant whose impact in the atmosphere is over 1600 times that of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period and accounts for about 20 percent of shipping's impact on the climate. This pollutant contributes to warming temperatures and accelerates the melting of snow and ice when it settles on them. As snow and ice decrease, darker land and water are revealed, leading to greater heat absorption from the sun and reduced reflective capacity of polar ice.
The reduction in sea ice extent and volume is currently leading to social and environmental crises in the Arctic. Scientists warn that processes are approaching thresholds where rapid and irreversible changes may occur. According to them, it is now too late to save summer sea ice in the Arctic, and preparations must be made for increased extreme weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere.
Black carbon also has negative impacts on human health, including premature death and harmful effects on the cardiovascular system. Recent research has shown that black carbon particles have been found in the tissues of fetuses, indicating serious health risks.
Ultimately, the Clean Arctic Coalition has called on other Arctic countries to support Denmark in creating new regulations for the use of cleaner marine fuels. These regulations should be applied in the area used as the basis for the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) by the Arctic Council to ensure uniformity across the Arctic.
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