Environmental Defense Fund today praised the 168 member nations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for adopting strong new emissions standards to limit the lethal particulate and smog-forming pollution from ocean-going vessels. These new standards will apply to ocean-going ships such as container ships and tankers that operate around the world.
"Nearly 90% of ships that call on U.S. ports are foreign-flagged ships, so the progress we made at the international level today is especially important to people living in communities near U.S. ports and along our nation's coastlines," said Janea Scott, a senior attorney in the Los Angeles office of Environmental Defense Fund. "This newly adopted international regulation will ensure that all ships, both domestic and foreign, are held to the same rigorous emissions standards."
The United States partnered with other nations worldwide in complex negotiations to craft these historic clean air standards. These new standards will help restore healthier air to ports and coastal communities around the world. Worldwide, shipping-related particulate matter pollution is responsible for approximately 60,000 cardiopulmonary and lung cancer deaths annually. Ships also are responsible for three percent of the global warming pollution worldwide, about as much global warming pollution as Canada emits. Today's action, however, did not address greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming pollution. Environmental Defense Fund respectfully urges international action, building from today's historic measures, to address the heat-trapping emissions from these large ships.
"Now that nations from around the world have collaborated on historic clean air standards to cut dangerous pollution from big ships, we need to work together here at home to carry out this clean air blueprint and restore healthier air for millions of Americans," added Scott. "We also urge these world leaders to build from this partnership to address the extensive global warming pollution released from these big ships."
To fully carry out these standards, the United States must adopt an Emission Control Area (ECA) delineating protective zones in America's territorial waters where strong clean air standards must be met. Ships operating in these designated areas will be required to meet the protective emissions standards adopted today.
"The United States should promptly take the necessary steps to delineate and carry out a protective emissions control area," concluded Scott.
A new report released last week by Environmental Defense Fund, "Floating Smokestacks: A Call for Action to Clean Up Marine Shipping Pollution," shows that these large ships
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