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Nordic Council: Can we reduce emissions from shipping without increasing land transport?

The Nordic Council has set up a working group to look at joint Nordic initiatives to facilitate the implementation of the EU sulphur directive. The aim is to assess whether it makes sense to have a joint Nordic efforts to meet the environmental target for shipping.

Apr 11, 2013

We must obtain an overview of the challenges and assess whether there is something the Nordic countries can do collectively to facilitate the transition", said Oscar Grimstad

Photographer: Johannes Jansson/norden.org

Shipping in the Baltic Sea contributes significantly to air and water pollution in the Baltic Sea Area to the detriment of the environment and human health. The EU sulphur directive for tighter regulations on emissions in the Baltic Sea, the Kattegat and the North Sea from 2015 should put a stop to this.

The Nordic Council has set up a working group to look at joint Nordic initiatives to facilitate the implementation of the EU sulphur directive.

The group's assignment is to create an overview of new cleaner technologies which will make it possible to fulfil tougher demands on emissions. In addition, the group will look at existing funding schemes which may facilitate the transition to new technologies that are a prerequisite for reaching the environmental targets.

Can we learn from each other?

Oskar Grimstad, Norwegian member of the Nordic Council, was elected to lead the work at the group's inaugural meeting.

"We must recognise that this is a huge challenge for the Nordic shipping companies. But there can be no question of reducing the requirements. In the working group we must obtain an overview of the challenges and assess whether there is something the Nordic countries can do collectively to facilitate the transition", said Grimstad after the first meeting of the working group.

"In Norway we have some experience of using gas (LNG) as a propellant in ships. Finland, Åland, Denmark and Sweden have had different experiences. The way forward is to gather positive experiences and see if it makes sense to make joint efforts in the Nordic Region. We must avoid the transition creating new and serious congestion and environmental problem in road traffic, and our industries losing their competitive edge", says Grimstad.

The working group plans to finish its work in connection with the annual September meetings in the Nordic Council.

Background

The EU sulphur directive sets requirements for reduced emissions to improve the marine and air environment in the Region.
The transition to cleaner technologies in shipping will require investments. The challenge is to ensure that investments in new and cleaner technology do not worsen competitiveness for industry, and to avoid a move from shipping to land transport resulting in negative impacts on the environment.