Cruise ships are responsible for significant emissions of SO2 and NOx along European coasts. Photo: © Shutterstock – joachim affeldt

Cruise ships poison the air

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest luxury cruise operator, emitted nearly 10 times more harmful sulphur dioxide (SO₂) around European coasts than did all 260 million EU passenger cars in 2017, according to a new analysis by Transport & Environment. Royal Caribbean Cruises, the world’s second largest cruise operator, emitted four times the SO₂ of the EU car fleet.

In absolute terms, Spain, Italy and Greece, closely followed by France and Norway, are the countries most exposed to SO₂ air pollution from cruise vessels, while Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Venice are the most impacted European port cities, followed by Civitavecchia (Rome) and Southampton.

Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from cruise ships in European seas – equivalent to about 15 per cent of the NOx emitted by Europe’s passenger car fleet in a year – also heavily impact some cities.

T&E recommends that the EU should implement a zero-emission port standard as soon as possible, and then extend it to other ship types. Emission control areas (ECAs), currently in place only in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, should be extended to the rest of the European seas. NOx emissions from existing ships should also be regulated. Furthermore, the report recommends turning low-emission control areas into zero-emission control areas to equally address air pollution and GHG emissions.

T&E’s shipping policy manager, Faig Abbasov, said: “There are enough mature technologies to clean up cruise ships. Shore-side electricity can help cut in-port emissions, batteries are a solution for shorter distances and hydrogen technology can power even the biggest cruise ships.

The cruise sector is apparently not willing to make the shift voluntarily, so we need governments to step in and mandate zero-emission standards.”

Source: T&E press release, 4 June 2019.
Link to the report: https://www.transportenvironment.org/publications/one-corporation-pollut...
See also the “Cruise Ship Ranking” by the German Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) at: www.nabu.de/cruiseshipranking-2019

Air pollutionEuropeShipping

In this issue

Not even 1.5°C is good enough

The international community is still far from agreeing on a clearly defined maximum limit for global warming. Yet, parts of marine ecosystems face catastrophic risks already at current levels of warming.

Editorial: IPCC Ocean and Cryosphere report is a powerful diplomatic asset

The IPCC’s Special Report on The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate and its summary for policymakers provide scary reading about ongoing changes and risks, as well as projected risks.

Capacity is no longer a reason for subsidies to fossil power

Check the national regulation regarding extreme power shortage situations, and educate either the regulator or the balance responsible power companies. Do not accept capacity arguments for subsidies to fossil fuels.

Increasing renewable energy targets for the EU

The new European Commission needs to sprint towards climate action to be in line with the Paris Agreement. There is growing support for at least 55% emission reductions by 2030.

EU law instrumental for cleaning up power plants

The EU Large Combustion Plants Directive was the main driver behind the significant air pollutant emission cuts in this sector from 2004 to 2015, according to a new EEA report.

Achieving a sustainable food future

Feeding the world while staying below 1.5°C by 2050 will require increased productivity, shifts in consumption, new technology and massive reforestation, according to a new report.

Prompt climate action needed to ensure food supplies

IPCC report says that climate change increases pressure on land, meanwhile land use causes almost a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental impacts of ship scrubbers

Untreated wash water from open-loop scrubbers contains heavy metals, aromatic hydrocarbons and soot particles, and scientific tests have shown harmful effects on marine organisms.

Ship emissions debate continues

While slightly stricter energy efficiency targets for certain types of ships were agreed by the IMO in May, there was still no progress on introducing effective short-term measures to cut ships’ carbon emissions.

Six countries still breach binding air pollution limits

In 2017, the national emission ceilings for ammonia were still violated by five member states and total emissions have now increased by more than three per cent over the last four years, preliminary data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows.

Global SO2 air pollution hotspots mapped

The Norilsk smelter complex in Russia continues to be the largest sulphur dioxide emission hotspot in the world.

Swedish refinery at crossroads: 2X fossil future contested

The Preem oil refinery in Sweden wants to expand, greatly increasing its CO₂ emissions and those of Sweden. It may wreck Sweden’s climate target. It may also help the Norwegian fossil industry’s effort to pitch CCS. What happens now is up to the government.

Hydrogen choices

Hydrogen has for several decades been touted as the fuel of the future. It is in fact a big commodity today, and heading for fast growth in a low-carbon future. If it is produced from fossil fuels, which is what Preem plans for, it is not part of the solution, but a big source of CO₂.

Main menu

Cruise ships poison the air

In this issue

Not even 1.5°C is good enough

Editorial: IPCC Ocean and Cryosphere report is a powerful diplomatic asset

Capacity is no longer a reason for subsidies to fossil power

Increasing renewable energy targets for the EU

EU law instrumental for cleaning up power plants

Achieving a sustainable food future

Prompt climate action needed to ensure food supplies

Environmental impacts of ship scrubbers

Ship emissions debate continues

Six countries still breach binding air pollution limits

Global SO2 air pollution hotspots mapped

Swedish refinery at crossroads: 2X fossil future contested

Hydrogen choices

In Breif

UK aims for zero-emission ships by 2025

10,000 EU staff call for coal phase-out by 2025

Court rulings on air pollution

Climate change and the Andean cryosphere

Publications

SINK OR SOURCE? Northern Forests at a crossroads

The role of northern forests in limiting warming to 1.5°C

Protecting Northern Forests crucial for biodiversity, the climate and indigenous rights

The 100 largest industry emitters in EU-27

Road to Nowhere

Bioenergy CCS – too little, too expensive, and not net negative

Direct air carbon capture and storage - A waste of time and energy

Carbon emissions from the cement industry can be reduced without CCS

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

Policy initiatives

Do Your Bit!