Shipping

According to some estimates, shipping was responsible for 0.7% to 1.1% of anthropogenic black carbon emissions in 2015 (Comer et al. 2017). Between 2015 and 2019 the black carbon emissions from shipping in the Arctic increased with 85%. Given the increase in shipping, black carbon emissions from the sector is of interest in the Arctic.

One of the two actions identified within the Area Shipping concerns emission reductions at the national and sub-national levels while the other one focuses on the international level of activities, where the key operator regulating shipping emissions is the IMO. Other key organisations working with black carbon emissions from international shipping are the Arctic Council (PAME, EGBCM), CCAC and ICCT. PAME is actively engaged in the black carbon work, including the identification of actions for the revision of the Arctic Council Arctic Marine Strategic Plan extending until 2025. EGBCM has a recommendation to “work to accelerate efforts under the International Maritime Organization to mitigate black carbon from international shipping” (Arctic Council 2019). The work of the international organisations is complemented by efforts of the national and local authorities to reduce black carbon emissions on the respective level.