Emission reduction for ships
NGO network against air pollution from ships
Kreuzfahrtschiff - Foto: Thomas Lauch
Air pollution from ships and Emission Control Areas
Shipping is an efficient mode of transport for goods and people over long distances. But the ongoing use of polluting fossil fuels such as heavy fuel oil leads to significant air pollution. Releasing harmful pollutants like sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and (ultra-) fine particles (PM) into the air contributes to acid rain, smog, and serious health problems, especially in coastal and port communities. Globally 60,000 premature deaths are associated with air pollution from ships and in the EU alone pollution from ships causes around 60 billion EUR in health costs per year.
To reduce this impact, multiple regions have been designated as Emission Control Areas (ECAs). Typically, ECAs either regulate the amount of sulphur oxides (SOx) and/or nitrogen oxides (NOx). Ships are forced to follow stricter rules regarding the type of fuel they use or install advanced technology to reduce their air pollutant emissions. Multiple studies on ECAs e.g. by IIASA (2018), INERIS (2019), REMPEC (2019) and ICCT (2024) have shown that these regulations significantly reduce harmful emissions near coastlines, improving air quality and protecting public health. ECAs present one of multiple necessary steps toward cleaner, more sustainable shipping.
Network
A well-established network of NGOs in Europe has been working towards establishing further ECAs. Major milestones have been achieved so far. In the Mediterranean, an Emission Control Area for sulphur oxides is in effect since May 2025. And the North-East-Atlantic is poised to become an Emission Control Area for SOx as well as NOx, entering into force in 2027. This newly designated ECA will connect existing ECAs and found the largest ECA globally.
To facilitate the designation of future Emission Control Areas and to protect nature and the environment and human health, NABU is working together with multiple partner organizations throughout Europe:
- Ecologistas en Acción (Spain)
- Ecodes (Spain)
- Institut Mobilités en Transition (France)
- Cittadini per l’aria (Italy)
- Hellas Ornithological Society (Greece)
- BirdLife Malta (Malta)
- ZERO (Portugal)
Backround information
Network Conferences
"Controlling emissions from Shipping" in Paris 2025
To enable the process, share new scientific findings and bring different parties together, NABU and our partner organizations regularly host conferences since 2017. Together with stakeholders from the shipping industry, ports, cities, science, administration and civil society we reflect the impact of shipping emissions and identify technical and legislative ways to effectively reduce air pollution from shipping. Our latest conference was held on 30th of September 2025 in Paris. We thank everybody for their participation and ongoing effort in tackling the issues. The presentations of the day can be downloaded below.
Presentations 2025
Network Conference 2024
The 2024 conference took place on 18 October in Livorno on the topic of "Air quality improvement and climate impact reduction: Opportunities for mediterranean shipping and ports." The programme and the presentations of the day can be downloaded below.