Several thousand deaths could be avoided by new emissions control area

A new study published by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) estimates that the introduction of the North Atlantic Emission Control Area (AtlECA) could prevent between 118 and 176 premature deaths in 2030 alone in the plausible compliance scenarios.

The report estimates between 2,900 and 4,300 premature deaths could be avoided between 2030 and 2050.

It also claims that the cumulative economic value of these health benefits could reach €19 to €29 billion between 2030 and 2050.

The new analysis suggests that implementing the AtlECA could reduce the shipping-attributable share of air pollution concentrations in the AtlECA by 77%–86% for sulfur dioxide (SO₂), 3% for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and 31%–59% for PM_2.5.

The possible AtlECA includes the territorial seas and exclusive economic zones of the Faroe Islands, France, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

The study assesses the benefits – environmental and public health – of reducing emissions from ships in the North Atlantic Ocean by designating the region as an emission control area (ECA), as a large volume of cargo vessels, tankers, and cruise ships traverse the North Atlantic daily.

A previous ICCT assessment found that establishing the North Atlantic Emission Control Area (AtlECA), which includes the territorial seas and exclusive economic zones of the Faroe Islands, France, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, has the potential to significantly reduce emissions from ships by 2030.

Additionally, it would serve as a link between already established ECAs in the Baltic, North, and Mediterranean Sea, and connect them with recently approved ECAs in Norwegian Sea and Canadian Arctic. 

According to the analysis, the North Atlantic Emission Control Area (AtlECA) would impose stricter regulations aimed at reducing emissions of sulfur oxides, fine particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides.

The results of this and previous studies are intended to be a part of a submission to the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee on designating the AtlECA and follow the requirements of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI.

^{Image: ICCT / The North Atlantic Emission Control Area and other established and recently approved emission control areas}