The Clean Arctic Alliance has welcomed the Nordic Council’s adoption of a landmark resolution on polar fuels, urging Nordic governments to push for new regulations under the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The proposed measures would mandate the use of cleaner fuels in Arctic shipping to reduce emissions of black carbon a pollutant with a severe impact on Arctic ice and global climate systems.
Nordic Council’s Commitment to a Cleaner Arctic
During its session in Stockholm, the Nordic Council a body representing 87 parliamentarians from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and associated territories approved a proposal titled “Polar Fuels for a Prosperous Arctic.”
The resolution encourages Nordic governments to work within the IMO to formally recognize “polar fuels” in the MARPOL Convention and develop regulations promoting their use in Arctic waters.
Dr. Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, applauded the move, calling it “a crucial step toward protecting the Arctic from the disproportionate impacts of black carbon.” She emphasized the urgency of action ahead of the December 5th deadline for submitting proposals to the IMO’s Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR13) meeting in February 2026.
Black carbon emissions from shipping have more than doubled over the past decade, yet solutions exist. Requiring the use of cleaner distillate fuels and emerging zero-emission alternatives could dramatically reduce pollution from vessels operating in or near Arctic regions.
Understanding Black Carbon and Polar Fuels
Black carbon is a short-lived but highly potent climate pollutant produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Over a 20-year period, it can have a warming impact more than 3,000 times greater than CO₂. When emitted from ships, black carbon particles settle on snow and ice, darkening surfaces and accelerating melting a process that weakens the planet’s natural reflectivity, or albedo.
The decline in Arctic sea ice is not just an environmental crisis it has far-reaching consequences for global weather systems and ocean circulation. Scientists warn that irreversible tipping points may soon be crossed, intensifying extreme weather events across the northern hemisphere.
On land, many countries have already reduced black carbon emissions through cleaner fuels and technologies. However, similar progress has yet to be made in the shipping sector. To address this, environmental groups, including the Clean Arctic Alliance, have urged the IMO to amend MARPOL Annex VI to include “polar fuels” such as DMA or DMZ distillates fuels capable of cutting black carbon emissions significantly.
The Nordic Council’s call for action represents a critical opportunity for international cooperation to safeguard the Arctic. By promoting cleaner polar fuels, the initiative can deliver immediate reductions in black carbon emissions, protecting fragile ecosystems and supporting global climate goals. With the IMO set to discuss the proposal in early 2026, Nordic nations now have a pivotal role to play in leading the charge toward a cleaner, safer Arctic future.
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Source: Clean Arctic Alliance
