Baltic Sea - first nitrogen emissions control area?

The Baltic Sea is already an emission control area (ECA) for sulpur dioxide. Now HELCOM intends to take the same step for nitrogen oxides.

At a meeting in St. Petersburg on 18–20 November, the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) agreed, in principle, to submit to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) a proposal to designate the Baltic Sea as a nitrogen oxides emission control area (NOx-ECA) under the revised Annex VI of the IMO’s MARPOL Convention.

“Tighter NOx-ECA restrictions, requiring an 80-per-cent reduction of emissions from new marine diesel engines installed on ships as from 1 January 2016, would reverse the increasing trend of NOx emissions in the Baltic Sea in the long run,” said HELCOM’s professional secretary Monika Stankiewicz.

The HELCOM countries are planning to make this submission in 2010.
Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is one of the main contributors to the high nutrient concentrations that stimulate massive algae blooms in the Baltic Sea. Shipping has been identified as the largest contributor to atmospheric nitrogen oxide deposition in the Baltic Sea with a share of 16 per cent. However, the contribution can reach up to 50 per cent in some areas and seasons.

The total NOx emission from ships in the Baltic Sea is estimated at more than 370 kilotonnes in 2006 and 400 kilotonnes in 2007. This means they are comparable to the land-based emissions from Denmark and Sweden combined.

The Baltic Sea was the first sea area to be designated as a sulphur oxides emission control area (SOx-ECA) in 1997, but as a result of slow ratification, the enforcement of this decision was postponed until 19 May 2006.

Source: HELCOM press release 24 November 2008. www.helcom.fi/press_office/news_helcom/en_GB/MARTIME_7_outcome/

Note: The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), officially known as the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, is an intergovernmental organisation of the nine Baltic Sea coastal countries – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden – and the EU that works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution and to ensure safety of navigation in the region.

In this issue

Baltic Sea - first nitrogen emissions control area?

The Baltic Sea is already an emission control area (ECA) for sulpur dioxide. Now HELCOM intends to take the same step for nitrogen oxides.

Greece and Spain still defaulting

Greece and Spain have still not reduced their emissions as required by the protocols to the Convention on Long Range Air Pollution

Stricter emission limits for trucks and buses

The European Parliament agreed in December to a proposal that emissions of nitrogen oxides from new heavy duty vehicles shall be cut by 80 per cent and those of particulate matter by 66 per cent, as compared to existing standards.

Ocean acidification – the other CO2 problem

Within decades increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere could severely damage marine ecosystems, scientists warn.

Coal-fired power plants still heavy polluters

Large combustion plants are responsible for two thirds of EUs total sulphur emissions, and the coal-fired top ten polluters account for 30 per cent.

Asian brown cloud affects food safety for billions

Man-made brown clouds are jeopardizing human health and food production for three billion people in Asia.

European ecosystem sensitivity mapped

Excess nitrogen deposition in the EU is threatening the sustainability of natural ecosystems over an area of more than one million square kilometres.

One per cent of GDP will save the climate

A new study shows that global warming can be kept below the critical 2°C rise at a cost of well below one per cent of the global gross domestic product (GDP).

Carbon limit proposed for large power plants

Binding emission standards for all large plants - new and existing - could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector by two thirds.

The road to Copenhagen

On 28 January the Commission issued a press release on the EU’s targets for a climate agreement in Copenhagen.

Strong structure, weak numbers

The final agreement on the EU climate package retains the goal to reduce emissions by 20 per cent. Together with a 20-per-cent share of renewables and 20-per-cent energy savings, this creates the triple goal of 20-20-20 by 2020.

Petrol vapour recovery to become mandatory

Draft new EU legislation that would limit harmful vapour emissions from petrol pumps was proposed on 4 December by the European Commission.

16 states exceed emisson limits

Only eleven member states expect to comply with their emission limits for all four air pollutants set by the EU national emission ceilings directive.

Editorial: Enforcement is the key

On 29 January the European Commission issued a series of legal threats to Member States for alleged breaches of EU legislation on air quality and industrial pollution.

Main menu

Baltic Sea - first nitrogen emissions control area?

In this issue

Baltic Sea - first nitrogen emissions control area?

Greece and Spain still defaulting

Stricter emission limits for trucks and buses

Ocean acidification – the other CO2 problem

Coal-fired power plants still heavy polluters

Asian brown cloud affects food safety for billions

European ecosystem sensitivity mapped

One per cent of GDP will save the climate

Carbon limit proposed for large power plants

The road to Copenhagen

Strong structure, weak numbers

Petrol vapour recovery to become mandatory

16 states exceed emisson limits

Editorial: Enforcement is the key

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

Policy initiatives

Do Your Bit!