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European Environment Agency critical of shipping air pollution

March 14, 2013

The shipping sector has been described as ‘one of the most unregulated sources of air pollution’. In a report on shipping, the European Environment Agency (EEA) says emissions from the sector have ‘increased substantially’ over the last two decades. Nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (PM2.5) levels have risen by as much as 35-55% between 1990 and 2010, and nitrogen oxide emissions could increase so much in the coming years that they could be equal to land-based sources by 2020.

Published online earlier this month, The impact of international shipping on European air quality and climate forcingpraises the EU for reducing sulphur emissions, but is highly critical of other pollutants. T&E’s policy officer for clean shipping, Antoine Kedzierski, said: ‘This is not the first time an authoritative source has said air pollution from shipping needs to be properly addressed, and quickly. The EEA recommends better integration between air pollution and climate change policies. With Commission climate officials working on a proposal on monitoring ship emissions, this is the chance for action on this long-standing problem.’

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