Ships’ NOx limit may be delayed

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) may delay the implementation of stricter limits for nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions for ships operating in emission control areas (ECA), possibly by five years.

The decision on 15 May by the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) was taken despite the fact that an IMO correspondence group reported that there is no need for a delay as technologies needed to meet new NOx standards are available.

Agreed back in 2008, the Tier III NOx standard will impose a 75 per cent reduction in NOx emissions for new engines on ships operating in agreed NOx ECAs as from 2016. At present, this NOx limit has only been agreed for the North American ECA, while ECAs in Europe only restrict sulphur emissions.

The environmental groups Seas at Risk and Transport & Environment, both founding members of the IMO observer organisation, Clean Shipping Coalition, condemned moves to force a delay.

Antoine Kedzierski, T&E clean shipping officer, said: “Today’s decision to delay ship engine NOx standards is a shameful act by the IMO. Two years before the entry into force of the next emissions limit, the IMO punishes those who have chosen to invest in clean innovation in order to comply and rewards those who have cynically waited and lobbied for postponement. The call was led by Russia, but the lack of a common EU position is also to blame.”

John Maggs from Seas at Risks commented: “If left unregulated, shipping will soon become the biggest source of NOx emissions in Europe, exceeding all land-based emissions put together. Due to IMO’s sudden and abrupt change of direction, Europe should now act by itself and set clean engine standards at EU level.”

NOx emissions form a big part of the air pollution coming from international shipping. Any delay means that shipping NOx emissions most likely will to continue to increase for, at least, the next decade.
The IMO decision to delay the Tier III NOx standard in ECAs from 2016 to 2021 needs to be adopted by vote by the next MEPC meeting, expected to be held in March 2014.

Sources: Sustainable Shipping News and T&E press release, 15 May 2013.

In this issue

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Editorial: Public money for public environmental goods

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Significant cuts in carbon emissions within reach

The CO₂ emissions of the Nordic and Baltic countries can be cut by 70 per cent by 2020 or soon after, and by 95 per cent by 2030, without nuclear power and CCS, shows a new AirClim report.

Call for international nitrogen framework

A global framework on nutrients could be a way forward to address the extensive problems of pollution caused by excess nitrogen and other nutrients, suggests a recent UNEP report.

Coal pollution kills Indians

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Eight countries continue to exceed their emission ceilings

Car fleet dieselisation combined with high real-life driving emissions contribute to seven countries still failing to meet NOx reduction targets.

Stricter US standards for road vehicles proposed

The proposed Tier 3 standards should reduce emissions of smog-forming volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides by 80 per cent and particulate matter by 70 per cent, compared to today’s car fleet average standards.

Every breath we take – air quality in Europe

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Call for long-term CO2 targets

The European Parliament Environment Committee has proposed a 120kph speed limit for vans from 2014 and 2025 CO₂ targets for both cars and vans.

Shipping should cut greenhouse gases and air pollutants

Due to its dependence on fossil fuels and the fact that it is one of the least regulated emission sources, emissions from the marine transport sector contribute significantly and increasingly to air pollution and climate change.

Stricter air pollution rules for machinery on the way

Emission standards for the non-road sector should be extended and strengthened in line with the Euro VI standards for road vehicles, environmental groups demand.

Coal costs health €43 billion a year

A phase-out of coal power generation is imperative, with a moratorium on new coal power plants as a first step.

CCS sidelined by tenuous financing

Carbon, capture and storage (CCS) has still not proven to be anything else than an inordinately expensive technology on an experimental level. Nevertheless the European Commission continues to embrace it.

Smaller carbon footprint from food

German diets have become more climate-friendly in the past twenty years, but there is great scope to reduce the carbon footprint from food consumption even more.

Europe’s dirty dozen

The most polluting point sources in Europe increased their carbon, sulphur and nitrogen oxides emissions in 2011.

Main menu

Ships’ NOx limit may be delayed

In this issue

Finding the ambition level

Editorial: Public money for public environmental goods

Significant cuts in carbon emissions within reach

Call for international nitrogen framework

Coal pollution kills Indians

Eight countries continue to exceed their emission ceilings

Stricter US standards for road vehicles proposed

Every breath we take – air quality in Europe

Call for long-term CO2 targets

Shipping should cut greenhouse gases and air pollutants

Stricter air pollution rules for machinery on the way

Coal costs health €43 billion a year

CCS sidelined by tenuous financing

Smaller carbon footprint from food

Europe’s dirty dozen

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

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