Ocean-going vessels emit up to 3% of the total world inventory of 100 tons greenhouse gas emissions (ICCT).

Citing the "threat of global climate disruption," California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. petitioned the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adopt strict greenhouse gas regulations for ocean-going vessels. Earthjustice, a US public interest environmental law firm, filed a similar petition with the EPA on behalf of Oceana, Friends of the Earth and the Center for Biological Diversity.

Ocean-going vessels of more than 100 tons are estimated to emit up to 3% of the total world inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). This is more than the emissions attributable to almost any individual nation in the world except the US, Russia, China, Japan, India and Germany, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. These emissions are projected to increase nearly 75% during the next 20 years.

Under the Clean Air Act, California has the authority to file a petition asking the EPA to establish CO₂ emissions standards. In the petition filed today, Brown asks the EPA to:

• Make a finding that carbon dioxide emissions from ocean-going vessels contribute to air pollution and endanger human health and welfare.

• Set standards for reducing such carbon dioxide emissions.

Brown said that under the reasoning of the United States Supreme Court's holding in Massachusetts v. EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to adopt standards for greenhouse gas emissions from vessels that enter US territorial waters.

The Earthjustice petition asks the Environmental Protection Agency to:

• Require marine vessels to increase their fuel efficiency, thereby reducing carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

• Require marine vessels to use cleaner fuels to reduce greenhouse gas and soot emissions.

• Extend these new regulations to all marine cargo vessels operating in US waters, whether they are registered in the United States or another country, to avoid disproportionate burdens on US ships and to reduce pollution emitted in US waters.

In addition to the other pollutants, shipping contributes significantly to global sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions as the average sulfur content (2.4%) of the fuel burned in marine diesel engines is high compared to other transport sectors.

The United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) has authority under international treaties to establish pollution standards for vessels but to date has failed to adopt controls on greenhouse gas emissions. At a recent meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee, it was agreed to inventory greenhouse gases by 2009, but no commitment was made to regulate such emissions.

Resources:

• California Petition

• Earthjustice Petition

• Greenhouse Gas Impacts from Fuel Switching (Corbett and Winebrake)

• Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (ORNL) National Fossil-Fuel CO₂ Emissions

• Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ocean-going Ships: Impacts, Mitigation Options and Opportunities for Managing Growth (ICCT)

• Study of Greenhouse Gases from Ships (International Maritime Organization)

• Eyring, V., Stevenson, D. S., Lauer, A., Dentener, F. J., Butler, T., Collins, W. J., Ellingsen, K., Gauss, M., Hauglustaine, D. A., Isaksen, I. S. A., Lawrence, M. G., Richter, A., Rodriguez, J. M., Sanderson, M., Strahan, S. E., Sudo, K., Szopa, S., van Noije, T. P. C., and Wild, O.: Multi-model simulations of the impact of international shipping on Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate in 2000 and 2030, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 7, 757-780, 2007

 

 

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