International maritime regulation decreases sulfur dioxide but increases nitrogen oxide emissions in the North and Baltic Sea
Journal article, 2023

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from shipping have been regulated internationally for more than fifteen years. Emissions reduction from shipping provides benefits for human health and the environment, but the effectiveness of regulations in reducing ship emissions is less well understood. Here, we examine how the establishment of European Emission Control Areas and other international maritime regulations in the North and Baltic Seas affect sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions in the region. We combine and analyze more than 110,000 ship plume measurements, inspection results, and satellite data from 2018 to 2022. We find that compliance rates for sulfur emissions are higher near ports than in open waters. However, the regulations did not affect the concentration of nitrogen oxide emissions, which increased in the past three years. These findings highlight the need for enhanced emission regulations that improve air quality.

Author

Ward Van Roy

Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen

Benjamin Van Roozendael

Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen

Laurence Vigin

Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen

Annelore Van Nieuwenhove

Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen

Kobe Scheldeman

Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen

Jean Baptiste Merveille

Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen

A. Weigelt

Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH)

Johan Mellqvist

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Geoscience and Remote Sensing

Jasper Van Vliet

Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate

Danielle van Dinther

TNO Innovation for life

Jörg Beecken

Explicit ApS

Frederik Tack

Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB)

N. Theys

Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB)

Frank Maes

Ghent university

Communications Earth and Environment

26624435 (eISSN)

Vol. 4 1 391

Subject Categories

Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

Economics

Environmental Sciences

DOI

10.1038/s43247-023-01050-7

More information

Latest update

11/7/2023