Latest news with #LiudmilaOsipova
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers issue grim warning after making concerning discovery about ships in Arctic: 'Major drivers'
New research indicates that black carbon pollution — the soot-like planet-warming material released through the incomplete burning of fossil fuels — has reached higher levels in the Arctic than previously expected as a result of shipping activity in the area. While successful trading partnerships might bode well for the European Union and global markets, the number of ships in the Arctic is proving taxing for the environment. According to a late-May report from Euronews, previous studies have looked mostly at the emissions impacts from EU ships rather than also including impacts from other ships passing through the region, potentially skewing understanding of the industry's carbon footprint as effects continue to grow. "Our findings show that ships connected to EU trade, regardless of their flag, are major drivers of black carbon pollution in the Arctic," Liudmila Osipova, an International Council on Clean Transportation senior researcher, told the outlet. Euronews reported that estimates for the polar region point to a growth from less than 200 metric tons of black carbon in 2015 to over 400 in 2021 — over a 100% increase. Based on this trend, numbers are expected to rise further if pollution-heavy shipping activity persists. When it comes to black carbon, the major concern is its sheer potency in warming the planet. A single metric ton has the "global warming effect equivalent" to up to 900 metric tons of typical carbon dioxide, per Euronews. Higher levels of black carbon emissions in the polar region contribute substantially to Arctic ice melt — a phenomenon that could release long-frozen infectious microbes, sparking unprecedented disease outbreaks. Rising sea levels brought about by melting Arctic ice are also set to jeopardize coastal communities and exacerbate extreme weather. Events like hurricanes are part of life on Earth, but heat-trapping gases are supercharging their effects, with higher seas meaning storm surges can be more destructive and reach further inland than before. Accurately understanding a problem is generally the first step in addressing it. According to Euronews, prior black carbon estimates for the Arctic region have been projected well below the actual level, possibly misleading many to believe the issue hasn't been as serious as it actually is. Properly tracking emissions from all cargo ships — and funding research and development for more carbon-neutral ship technology — could be among the most beneficial steps forward. But municipalities and individuals will likely need to take further action in the short term. As ice sheets continue to melt, the resilience of homes to extreme weather can be improved with clean-energy upgrades, such as the installation of solar panels in conjunction with a battery system to maintain essential household power during grid outages. Clean-energy alternatives are becoming more widespread in communities too, and some municipal projects to protect coastal residents are moving forward even without full support at the national level. Other such initiatives around the world may require more prioritization and sustained investment to make a real difference. Learning about how to organize support for pro-environment policies could be a part of coordinating global efforts to mitigate the effects of international issues like shipping and supply chain impacts on human-caused climate change. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Euronews
28-05-2025
- Science
- Euronews
How shipping in the EU is driving the rapid loss of Arctic sea ice
Black carbon emissions from European shipping in the Arctic have been significantly underestimated, a new study suggests. Produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels in ship engines, black carbon is contributing to the rapid loss of Arctic sea ice. Previous reports have only focused on vessels flying EU flags, overlooking the impact of ships travelling to and from EU ports. 'Our findings show that ships connected to EU trade, regardless of their flag, are major drivers of black carbon pollution in the Arctic,' says Liudmila Osipova, senior researcher at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), and lead author of its new study. 'Recognising these emissions in future policies could help the EU better align its climate goals with its real footprint in the Arctic.' As Arctic shipping activity increases, so too are the associated black carbon (BC) emissions. Between 2015 and 2021, BC emissions in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s definition of the Arctic nearly doubled, according to the study. In the more broadly defined Geographic Arctic, shipping emitted 1.5 kilotonnes (kt) of BC and 12 kt of CO₂ in 2021. About a quarter of these emissions occurred within the IMO definition of the Arctic, indicating a strong growth in BC emissions in the polar area, from 193 tonnes in 2015 to 413 tonnes six years later. This growth trend is concerning, since one tonne of black carbon has a global warming effect equivalent to 900 tonnes of CO₂, as it absorbs more heat in the atmosphere. BC's impact is particularly pronounced in the Arctic. When the sooty particles settle on snow or ice, they reduce the albedo of these surfaces, meaning they reflect less light and so melt faster. This compounds the climate challenges in a region which is already heating up three to four times faster than the global average. Despite its potent climate and health impacts - it is linked to lung cancer, respiratory illness, and cardiopulmonary disease - BC remains one of the most unregulated short-lived climate and air pollutants. Brussels typically only accounts for the emissions from its EU-flagged ships in the Arctic. To give a truer picture of the pollution over which the bloc has control, ICCT has also totted up BC and CO₂ from EU-regulated ships, which answer to the EU Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system as they voyage between EU ports. These vessels are the bigger polluters, it found. BC and CO₂ emissions from EU-regulated ships of at least 5,000 gross tonnage were nearly double those from EU-flagged ships in the IMO Arctic in 2021. That year, nearly three-quarters of the ships operating in the Geographic Arctic and half of those in the IMO Arctic were navigating to or from EU ports. To address a significant gap in its maritime regulation, the researchers say that EU policymakers could include BC among the pollutants measured and reported within the bloc's MRV system. Beyond improved emissions tracking, there are various ways to reduce BC emissions, such as incentivising ships to use distillate instead of residual fuel, and encouraging the installation of diesel particulate filters on board.
