- Environmental experts and advocacy groups are urging the Arctic Council to take immediate and ambitious action to curb black carbon and methane emissions from Arctic shipping.
- With Greenland assuming the Arctic Council chair through the Kingdom of Denmark, there is a unique opportunity to prioritize Indigenous rights, environmental protection, and a shift away from fossil fuel-based shipping towards cleaner alternatives.
- Several experts emphasize that practical and immediate solutions already exist that can drastically reduce harmful emissions overnight.
- The melting Arctic is recognized as a global climate tipping point. Protecting it is not only vital for local communities and wildlife but also crucial for slowing the wider climate crisis.
As the Kingdom of Denmark prepares to take over the Arctic Council Chairship from Norway next week, the Clean Arctic Alliance is urging government ministers and Senior Arctic Officials from both Arctic Council member and observer states to prioritize actions aimed at reducing black carbon and methane emissions from shipping in the Arctic.
Clean Arctic Alliance Calls for Bold Action on Shipping Emissions under Denmark’s Chairmanship
At the 14th meeting of the Arctic Council, held virtually on 12 May, the outgoing Norwegian chair is expected to reflect on its achievements over the past two years, while the incoming Kingdom of Denmark chair, encompassing Greenland and the Faroe Islands, will outline its priorities for the next two years. The period from 2025-2030 presents a critical opportunity for the shipping sector to take climate action, marking the first significant deadline from the International Maritime Organization to reduce shipping’s climate impact (with a goal of 20% reduction by 2025, striving for 30% by 2030).
In its vision for Denmark’s upcoming Arctic Council Chairmanship (2025-2027), the Clean Arctic Alliance has provided guidance, urging the Kingdom of Denmark to take global leadership in addressing critical issues facing the Arctic, such as reducing underwater radiated noise, eliminating pollution discharges into the ocean, addressing the risks of oil spills, and, most urgently, minimizing greenhouse gas and short-lived climate super pollutant emissions from shipping, including black carbon and methane.
Global Leaders Urge the Arctic Council to Address Shipping’s Climate Impact
Andrew Dumbrille, Special Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, explained that black carbon emissions could be reduced by 50-80% almost immediately by switching from heavy fuel oils to distillate fuels, while methane emissions could be avoided by choosing fuels that do not involve liquefied natural gas (LNG) or other methane-based fuels.
Kåre Press-Kristensen, Senior Advisor to Green Global Future, pointed out that Royal Arctic Line, the seaborne freight company owned by the Government of Greenland, has already voluntarily decided to phase out heavy fuel oil and scrubbers to reduce Arctic pollution.
Melanie Bahnke, President of Kawerak, Inc., emphasized the risks posed by super pollutants like black carbon and methane to the marine ecosystems essential for the food, culture, and wellbeing of the Bering Strait Tribes.
Ksenia Vakhrusheva, Project Manager and Policy Advisor at Bellona, expressed confidence that Greenland’s chairmanship would prioritize Arctic nature and indigenous communities over resource extraction, such as oil, gas, and deep-sea mining.
Lola Berna, Project Manager at ECODES, highlighted the urgency of protecting the Arctic from climate change, emphasizing that reducing super pollutant emissions is a fast and effective solution.
CT Harry, Senior Ocean Policy Analyst at the Environmental Investigation Agency, warned that no ecosystem would be more vulnerable to the impacts of black carbon and other super pollutants than the Arctic, stressing that the Arctic Council must uphold strong ship emission protections to preserve this critical region.
Elissama Menezes, Director at Equal Routes, called for the Arctic Council’s Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane to set ambitious reduction targets for super pollutants in the Arctic.
Jase Hatcher, Senior Oceans Campaigner at Friends of the Earth US, stressed that the future of the Arctic is closely tied to the future of the planet. He argued that waiting for substantive cooperation on super-pollutants like black carbon, which significantly impact the Arctic’s landscape, or on the issue of underwater radiated noise, which threatens marine life, is not an option. Hatcher warned against false solutions that prioritize profit over the health of the Arctic’s delicate ecosystems and its Indigenous Peoples, calling for leadership that is both clear-eyed and visionary to ensure the Arctic’s preservation for future generations.
Árni Finnsson, Board Chair at the Iceland Nature Conservation Association, pointed out that Iceland has recently increased its efforts for the conservation of the North-East Atlantic, notably through the creation of an emission control area.
Pam Pearson, Director of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI), emphasized the urgency for Arctic nations, Permanent Participants, and Observers to lead in reducing carbon emissions.
Raija Koch, Transport Policy Officer at NABU, emphasized that the Arctic is a climate tipping point, with melting ice and rising temperatures impacting the entire planet.
Sarah Bobbe, Senior Manager of the Arctic Program at Ocean Conservancy, highlighted the serious threat posed by super pollutants like black carbon and methane, which trap more heat than carbon dioxide.
Jim Gamble, Senior Director of the Arctic Program at Pacific Environment, called for urgent leadership and action from the Arctic Council to address the combined threats of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution.
Anaïs Rios, Shipping Policy Officer at Seas At Risk, emphasized that Greenland’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council presents a perfect opportunity to move away from methane and black carbon emissions.
Anna Barford, Oceans Campaigner at Stand.Earth, stressed that the Arctic is a critical ecosystem that needs protection for the benefit of the entire planet.
Gaëlle Haut, Advocacy Coordinator at Surfrider Foundation Europe, pointed out that Denmark and the Arctic Council have an incredible opportunity to reduce shipping’s impact and improve ocean health.
Constance Dijkstra, Shipping Manager at Transport and Environment, stressed that Denmark has a unique chance to lead the fight against shipping’s climate impact.
Elena Tracy, Senior Advisor at WWF Global Arctic Programme, urged the Arctic Council to demonstrate strong leadership in addressing pollution from shipping, especially black carbon emissions, which accelerate snow and ice melting and pose significant health risks.
Vera Pinho, Shipping Project Assistant at Zero, highlighted the disproportionate impact of the climate crisis on Arctic wildlife and communities, with the region warming four times faster than the rest of the planet.
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Source: CleanArcticAlliance
