North American ECA met by approval

The process of establishing an emission control area (ECA) off the North American shores has taken a step further.

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in July approved in principle a joint US/Canadian proposal to establish an emission control area (ECA) reaching 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) off the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean shores of the two countries (see AN 2/09, pp. 1, 4–5). The proposal is now set for formal adoption at the next MEPC meeting in March 2010.

In the debate, China criticised the proposed ECA for being too large in size, citing fears that it could set a precedent for forthcoming ECA applications, which could eventually lead to “most shipping areas becoming ECAs”, while Japan expressed concerns about availability of low-sulphur fuel to meet demand.

According to the revised MARPOL Annex VI, exhaust gas cleaning systems or other technical measures can be used as an alternative to low-sulphur fuels to achieve the emission sulphur reductions set out in the Annex.

Based on input from an expert group, the MEPC approved guidelines for discharge of washwater from exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers), but with the provision that there will be a review sometime after 2010, as more data becomes available on the contents of the discharge and its effects.

The need for more detailed and possibly also legally binding fuel quality standards has been under debate for some time. As a result, last year the IMO invited the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to revise their current fuel standards, aligning them with the needs of the revised Annex VI.

ISO reported back to the MEPC meeting in July, but the recommended quality parameters and limit values suggested by the ISO failed to satisfy the MEPC, with several points of concern raised by member states. Consequently, the ISO was asked to come back next year with a revised proposal.

The new North American emission control area (ECA) (green lines).

Note: Annex VI “Regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships” of the IMO’s MARPOL Convention was adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005. The revised Annex VI, as adopted in October 2008 will enter into force on 1 July 2010.

In this issue

High Noon for 2°C

The world’s nations agreed to “prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system” (Art. 2 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change¹) back in 1992. Until recently, most nations had not agreed what that meant, however.

Pollution treaty to be revised

A revised Gothenburg protocol is expected to include new national emission ceilings for 2020.

Still high ozone levels despite less air pollution

Ozone levels remain largely unchanged in many European countries, even though emissions of the air pollutants involved in ozone formation have been reduced significantly.

Ministers water down pollution legislation

EU environment ministers have agreed to water down proposals for stronger industrial pollution control.

North American ECA met by approval

The process of establishing an emission control area (ECA) off the North American shores has taken a step further.

Shipping climate policy continues to drift

Once again, the IMO has failed to adopt binding measures to reduce emissions from international shipping.

Cutting ship fuel sulphur may save 45,000 lives

Lowering the sulphur content of fuel used in shipping could prevent upwards of 45,000 premature deaths a year by reducing exposure to fine particles.

Commission scrutinizes air quality derogations

The EU Commission has approved time extensions for 19 air quality zones, but raised objections to 75 other proposed exemptions.

US to cut CO2 emissions from cars and light-duty trucks

A proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road vehicles in the USA will apply for model years from 2012.

Island states demand 95 per cent emission cuts

Island states and least developed countries agree: Rich nations have caused the problem, and should cut emissions 95 per cent by 2050.

Most rich Kyoto countries off track

Many rich countries will not be able to meet their climate commitments through active policy initiatives. Only “hot air” will do the trick.

Editorial: Bring them in

In June 2009, a coalition of environmental organisations presented a benchmark Copenhagen climate treaty. The document describes the path the world must be on to avoid catastrophic climate change, recognising that global temperature increase must be kept well below 2 degrees Celsius.