Air pollution from ships in the Mediterranean Sea can be significantly reduced with the introduction of an Emission Control Area (ECA) according to a French study which has just been published.

In a statement today BirdLife Malta noted that the report found that this would bring enormous air quality benefits and could save around 6,000 lives each year in the Mediterranean region.

The report highlights that particulate matter (PM) can be reduced by up to 20% and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels even by up to 76%.

The establishment of a Mediterranean ECA would also bring up to €14 billion in savings of annual health costs. Shipping emissions represent 40% of all Mediterranean coastal city air pollution, the report shows

BirdLife said that “it represents a significant threat for human health, environment and climate. The main reason for this pollution is the use of heavy fuel oil, highly charged in sulphur that emits black carbon, heavy metals, fine particulates (primary and secondary), and sulphur dioxide.”

According to the report, “as pollutants are carried over long distances, it is not only the inhabitants of littoral zones but also the populations in the inland regions who are subject to respiratory issues as well as inflammations and cardiovascular diseases.”The key finding is that the region would benefit most from a combined Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) and Nitrogen Emission Control Area (NECA). Sulphur dioxide (SO2) would be reduced by 77% and in port areas even by 100%.

Shipping emissions cause 50,000 premature deaths per year in Europe and cost €60 billion just in health costs per year in the European Union, the report said.

BirdLife Malta, together with its international partners in the Together against Air Pollution from Ships project, said that the welcome the conclusions of this study.

BirdLife Malta concluded by saying, “through our ongoing project, we are delivering an awareness campaign on air pollution generated by cruise ships in the Mediterranean with the ultimate goal of establishing an ECA in the Mediterranean Sea. We now call on governments in our region to take action.”

Photos: The World – the largest private residential ship at 644 feet on its call to Gozo in 2018 – Photo by Alain Salvary and the Mediterranean Sea traffic density map – Photo by BirdLife Malta

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