Growing support for a Mediterranean ECA. Illustration: © Shutterstock – Aha-Soft

REMPEC considering a Mediterranean ECA

On 11–13 June, the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) met in Malta, to address negative effects on human health and ecosystems of maritime activities. The participants – representing among others 19 Mediterranean coastal states and the EU – were generally supportive of the goal to designate the Mediterranean Sea as a SOx Emission Control Area (ECA).

Linked to this topic, the meeting discussed the need for those countries that have not yet ratified MARPOL Annex VI to do so; how to ensure the availability of low-sulphur fuels; the need for fair competition between all the ports in the Mediterranean Sea; and the potential economic impact in some areas heavily depending on maritime traffic.

In addition, at a meeting in Metz, France, on 6 May, the Italian Environment Minister Costa and his French counterpart De Rugy agreed to conduct a joint initiative to get a combined SOx and NOx ECA for the entire Mediterranean Sea.

Information: http://www.rempec.org/rempecnews.asp?NewsID=1508

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REMPEC considering a Mediterranean ECA

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

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

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Air pollution

Climate Change

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