Current situation
Shipping has clear environmental advantages in terms of small infrastructure requirements and low-energy transportation cost for large volumes of goods. A major drawback, however, is the high emissions of sulphur (SO2) and nitrogen (NOx) oxides, which damage both human health and ecosystems. Nevertheless, shipping remains among the few air pollution sources that are not yet regulated, although a huge reduction potential exists.

Ships emit large amounts of sulphur dioxide resulting in the fall of Acid Rain, which causes both acidification of soil and water and forest damage in many parts of Europe. Emissions from ships also contribute to eutrophication, which reduces biodiversity on land and in coastal waters. The sulphur dioxide emissions from ships can be converted into small sulphate particles, which cause serious health problems. Ship emissions also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, which damages both vegetation and human health and is a persistent problem in Southern and Central Europe.

What is the EEB doing?
The EEB is actively campaigning on reducing air pollution from ships. Currently we follow the developments under IMO regarding future standards for reducing ship emission together with a coalition of environmental groups allied with Friends of the Earth International.

Our memorandum to the German Presidency also contains a chapter on ship emissions and the need to further strengthen international standards. We call on the Presidency to coordinate Member State input to the IMO to ensure good proposals
are being tabled and that strong support for stricter standards is
achieved.

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