Pollution from ships to be addressed

The maritime shipping industry constitutes 80% of global trade by volume, and as a result is an important industry when it comes to emissions and climate change. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 50% by 2050.

A number of other regulations have been drafted to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment by 2020, such as cleaner-burning fuels and more reliance on solar and wind energy generation. These changes will pave the way for innovation and a cleaner industry in the future.

Are ships more environmentally-friendly?

Ships emit less carbon dioxide per tonne and per kilometre than trucks, trains and aeroplanes - but due to the size of the industry, maritime shipping is responsible for 2,5% of the global greenhouse gas emissions.

Annually, more than 50 000 ships burn around two billion barrels of heavy fuel oil, a crude oil byproduct that contains more sulphur than regular vehicular diesel. These toxic chemicals can end up in the ocean and the air from the ships’ exhaust fumes. They present a danger to marine life and human health in congested shipping routes around the world.

A research team from the United States has studied how sulphur-related pollution from the maritime shipping industry can affect human health. They concluded that ship pollution can cause lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, and is responsible for about 14 million cases of childhood asthma every year.

Who is responsible for ship pollution?

The IMO is the major organisation responsible for maritime shipping regulation around the world. Many of the world’s nations are required to abide by these laws and locally ensure that shipping companies comply with the regulations and laws.

But a ship at sea, in international waters, can operate independently, so the onus falls on the company itself to ensure that their fleet complies with international guidelines. Prior to this IMO agreement, there were no industry-wide emission reduction targets that were placed on member states or their shipping organisations.

Countries usually had their own emissions targets, but most did not have specific maritime shipping targets. This has meant that the shipping industry has not been held accountable for any reduction in emissions or their contributions to climate change.

Change will come, but it will be slow

This IMO climate agreement has been called a historic moment, but not all member states are happy. The United States, Brazil, Panama and Saudi Arabia are some of the countries that do not agree with the new regulations. The IMO sill have to work hard to ensure that they eventually comply.

One thing is certain; the agreement has opened the door for new innovations and can change the way the industry operates. It’s a new opportunity for the shipping industry to contribute to a solution to climate change. It can also serve as an example to other industries that change is possible and that emission targets should be reviewed.