- The proposed North Atlantic Emission Control Area (AtlECA) could prevent up to 4,300 premature deaths by reducing harmful ship emissions.
- Establishing AtlECA may bring up to €29 billion in economic value from health benefits alone.
- The ECA would help protect over 1,500 marine areas and 148 UNESCO sites from pollution and acidification.
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) recently released a study advocating for an Emission Control Area (ECA) in the North Atlantic. The study aims to support a submission to the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, with assistance from Porto University, reports ICCT.
Air Pollution from Maritime Shipping
Maritime shipping relies on large diesel engines powered by heavy fuel oil.
This fuel emits sulfur oxides (SOX), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), severely impacting air quality in coastal regions.
Projected Health Benefits of AtlECA
According to the ICCT, implementing stricter emission controls in the North Atlantic could prevent between 118 and 176 premature deaths in 2030 alone.
Cumulative health benefits could reach 2,900 to 4,300 lives saved between 2030 and 2050.
Economic Impact of Health Improvements
Economic value from health improvements due to AtlECA could total between €19 to €29 billion by 2050.
Benefits would be maximized if ships switch to distillate fuels over scrubbers or desulfurized fuel oils.
Affected Regions and Population
The AtlECA would encompass the territorial seas and economic zones of the Faroe Islands, France, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
This region includes 190 million residents, with vulnerable populations like young children, older adults, and Greenlandic Inuit communities at heightened risk.
Statement from ICCT’s Project Lead
ICCT Senior Researcher Liudmila Osipova stated, “Establishing this emission control area is an opportunity to significantly reduce harmful emissions and improve public health for those living in coastal communities…”
AtlECA would help protect the North Atlantic’s marine biodiversity by covering over 1,500 marine protected areas, 17 marine mammal habitats, and 148 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Reducing ship emissions would mitigate pollution and ocean acidification, essential for preserving these ecosystems.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: ICCT
