Low-emission area for ships in the Mediterranean

Low emission area for ships in the Mediterranean

LIFE4MEDECA: The EU LIFE program for the Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area

Together with partners from Italy, Spain, Germany and Israel, the Green Transition Denmark is working on an EU project to establish a low-emission area for shipping in the Mediterranean and thereby reduce air pollution in the area.

Shipping in the Mediterranean has major consequences for public health in neighboring countries. The large ships burn heavy bunker oil, which contains 500 times as much sulfur as regular road diesel. This makes it one of the most polluting fuels available. At the same time, there are no requirements for the ships' filters or catalytic converters.

The massive emissions pollute the air and increase the risk of serious illness. This has massive consequences for public health and thus also the economy of neighboring countries. That is why we in the Green Transition Denmark are working on a project called LIFE4MEDECA, which aims to reduce emissions from ships and thereby reduce air pollution in the area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=N0mfpIX-0aQ&ab_channel=LivornoPortInnovation

By introducing a low-emissions area in the Mediterranean and setting requirements for the ships' exhaust systems, the emission of sulfur and nitrogen oxides can be reduced by up to 80 percent. As part of the project, we will carry out measurements of the air pollution in nine selected port cities on the Mediterranean. At the same time, we must contribute knowledge and experience from the low-emission area for shipping, which has already been established around Denmark.

When the project is fully phased in, an annual socio-economic gain of a large three-digit billion amount is expected due to less disease in the countries around the Mediterranean. In addition, it will have a positive effect on the environment and nature around the Mediterranean area, which is negatively affected by the high air pollution. Although the project is primarily concerned with local air pollution, the project can actually also contribute to cleaner air in Denmark. Air pollution does not necessarily stay within national borders, and the large emissions in the Mediterranean area can therefore also have a negative impact on the air we breathe in Denmark.