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New ECAs in the Arctic and Norwegian Sea
The Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea were designated as Emission Control Areas (ECAs) during a recent meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). This move is expected to significantly reduce pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter (PM). The WWF and other civil society organisations have welcomed the decision, calling it a "big win" for indigenous and coastal communities affected by ship emissions.
Additionally, there is ongoing collaboration to establish another large ECA in the North Atlantic, signaling further environmental protections for that region.