Press Release: At a conference in Piraeus on November 20th 2019 the European NGO network working together for the establishment of a Mediterranean emission control area (MedECA) urged decision makers to not further slow down the process for a MedECA. Air pollution from ships causes severe health and environmental damages that can no longer be ignored. A road map for the designation of the Mediterranean Sea as an ECA that has been discussed at the latest UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan meeting is by far not ambitious enough in timing and scope.
Daniel Rieger, NABU Shipping expert: “While there is already a lot of support from littoral states such as France, Italy and Spain other countries with a strong link to the shipping industry are still hesitant to join the initiative. However, there is no doubt that Greece, Malta and Cyprus own their citizens the right to breathe fresh air. Therefore they should not play for time. Evidence is overwhelming that reduced air pollution saves lives and comes at tremendous economic benefits as well. So I cannot see any reason to further postpone the decision. It is time to act.”
Mediterranean states need to agree on a fast road map at the upcoming Barcelona Convention COP meeting in December in Naples. The common submission to the International Maritime Organisation to declare the Mediterranean Sea an emission control area should be made no later than 2020. Also a Mediterranean ECA must cover the whole Sea and address sulphur and nitrogen emissions at the same time as to effectively save lifes, reduce health costs and prevent environmental damage.
George Sgouros, Director of Hellenic Ornithological Society/ Birdlife Greece: “The Greek people have the same right to clean air just as inhabitants of other European countries. We can no longer accept that there are different standards within Europe just to allow ship owners to burn the cheapest and dirtiest fuel on the planet. Our government must act immediately and follow suit the French initiative. If the health benefits were not enough research also shows significant economic benefits and that such a regulation could even stimulate maritime industries as it comes as a innovation catalyst.”
The IMO 2020 sulphur regulation coming into force on January 1st will already bring benefits for the environment and health. Impact assessments for the Mediterranean ECA commissioned by France and the EU Commission clearly show that a combined ECA in the Mediterranean Sea covering sulphur (SECA) and nitrogen (NECA) emissions almost double this positive impact regarding socio-economic savings and prevention of premature deaths. A combined ECA would avoid up 6,200 cases of premature deaths annually and could save 8 to 14 Billion Euro in health costs throughout the coastal economies.
First industry voices also start to support the call for a MedECA. French cruise company for example PONANT recently signed the NGOs networks “Rome Declaration” to designate the Mediterranean Sea an emission control area. All signatories of the declaration are urging policy makers to take action on shipping related air pollution and work in particular towards the designation of a Mediterranean Emissions Control Area (MedECA) to drastically reduce harmful air pollution emissions from ships sailing in the Mediterranean Sea. The company deliberately stopped the use of high sulphur heavy fuel oil and switched completely to marine gasoil. The cruise line also voluntarily uses catalytic systems on all routes to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions and nitrogen oxide emissions drastically.
