As explained, this positive trend is the result of joint efforts by member states and the maritime industry to implement EU rules under the Sulphur Directive and opt for cleaner fuel.
EU mechanisms to technically and financially support member states to reduce emissions were an important factor in compliance, according to the commission.
Since 2015, stricter limits in the designated ‘Sulphur Oxides Emissions Control Areas’ of the North and Baltic Seas have more than halved emissions, while the overall economic impact on the sector remained minimal, the report says.
“Environmental rules deliver and protect our citizens’ quality of life when all sides involved work together to correctly apply them. The shared commitment by member states, industry, and the maritime community as a whole is paying off. People living around protected sea areas can breathe cleaner and healthier air. And we have preserved the level playing field for industry,” Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for the Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, commented.
The report comes days after the member states of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) reached an agreement on a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping by at least 50% by 2050.
Both are said to illustrate the commitment of the EU to the goals of the Paris Agreement and to a Europe that protects with cleaner air for all as exhaust gases from ships are a significant source of emission and impact on citizens’ health and the environment.
歐盟委員會發布的一份新的報告顯示，過去幾年船舶排放的硫氧化物（SOx）造成的空氣污染大幅下降。
正如所解釋的，這個積極方向是成員國和海運業共同努力實施減硫指令的歐盟規定 ,並選擇更乾淨燃料的結果。
委員會稱，歐盟在技術和財政上支持成員國減少排放的機制是遵守法規的重要因素。
報告顯示，自2015年以來，北部和波羅的海指定的“硫氧化物排放控制區”的限制更嚴格，排放量減半，然而對該總體經濟影響仍然很小。
“當所有相關方共同合作正確實施時，環境法規就能提供和保護我們公民的生活質量。成員國，工業界和整個海事界的共同承諾正在取得成效。生活在保護海域的人們可以呼吸更清潔，更健康的空氣。同時我們保留了行業的公平競爭環境，“ 環境漁業海事事務專員Karmenu Vella評論說。
這份報告是在國際海事組織（IMO）成員國達成協議後的幾天內達成的，該戰略旨在到2050年將國際航運溫室氣體（GHG）排放量減少至少50％。
據說，兩者都說明了歐盟對“巴黎協定”目標的承諾，以及歐洲對所有人的清潔空氣的保護，因為來自船舶的廢氣是排放和影響公民健康和環境的重要來源。
Imformation Source: World Maritime News Staff
Image Courtesy: European Commission
