International shipping 'impacting on air quality'

The international shipping industry must work to cut pollutants and improve air quality, a report from the European Environment Agency has found.

Shipping is "currently one of the most unregulated sources of air pollution", the EEA argued, and is responsible for a significant amount of coastline contaminants.

Air quality within 400km of coastlines is severely impacted by sea freight, with around 70 per cent of global shipping emissions reaching this area. This is even higher in European waters, the research said.

In and around busy ports, almost 80 per cent of the nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide originates from ships.

Only 3.3 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions was related to national and international shipping in 2007. However, it is projected emissions from the sector will grow by as much as four per cent per year over the next decade.

The researchers suggested cutting fuel consumption would be the most effective way to improve air quality and reduce pollutants. They highlighted a study that found a ten per cent reduction in speed could cut energy demand by 19 per cent.

EEA executive director Jacqueline McGlade commented: "We need initiatives that protect the environment as an overall system. The choice between either clean air or mitigating climate change is a false dichotomy - Europe needs both."

She added: "By avoiding unnecessary movement of goods and improving transport efficiency, we can address both air pollution and greenhouse gas mitigation together."

The European Union is currently planning to issue fines to cities that do not meet stringent air quality targets by 2015, leading cities such as Edinburgh, Scotland to consider the introduction of low emission zones.

Posted by Joseph Hutton