Video Q&A: Why the EU’s Fit for 55 Package of Climate Regulations Must Include Black Carbon from Ships

Video Q&A: Why the EU's Fit for 55 Package of Climate Regulations Must Include Black Carbon from Ships

In October 2021 the EU’s External Action Service issued a new Communication promising stronger EU engagement for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic that would promote faster and more ambitious emission reductions and lead the drive for zero-pollution of shipping in the Arctic. The European Commission’s Fit for 55 climate regulation package proposes that shipping be brought into the EU’s ETS and be subject to a ship GHG intensity standard under the proposed Fuel EU Maritime regulation, However black carbon – one-fifth of shippings’ CO2e emissions – which has a disproportionately large impact when emitted in or near the Arctic is completely ignored.

The following Q&A videos, presented by the Clean Arctic Alliance team considers how the EU’s Fit for 55 package can address black carbon and deliver a double-whammy by delivering the commitments in the new Communication and the IMO’s black carbon Resolution within the “brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future” referred to in the latest IPCC AR6 report.

See also: Infographic: Tackling ships’ black carbon emissions in the Arctic through EU action

 

Q&A 1/7: Why are black carbon emissions from ships so problematic in the Arctic?
Dr Sian Prior, Lead Advisor

Q&A 2/7: How can the EU’s Fit for 55 package reduce and mitigate black carbon from ships?
Dr Lucy Gilliam, EU Strategic and Technical Advisor.

Q&A 3/7: If black carbon is included in the EU’s Fit for 55 package, what must happen to ensure it reduces emissions and how can black carbon emissions factors be established?
Bill Hemmings, Black Carbon Advisor

Q&A 4/7: What will be the impact of including black carbon in the proposed FuelEU Maritime regulation?
Bill Hemmings, Black Carbon Advisor

Q&A 5/7: If black carbon is included in the EU’s Fit for 55 package, won’t this encourage ships switch to LNG as an alternative?
Bill Hemmings, Black Carbon Advisor.

Q&A 6/7: If the greenhouse gas intensity standard will not immediately lead to cleaner fuels through the Arctic, what else must be done?
Dr Sian Prior, Lead Advisor

Q&A 7/7: How would including black carbon the EU’s Fit for 55 package help the climate?
Dr Lucy Gilliam, EU, Strategic and Technical Advisor.

 

See also: Infographic: Tackling ships’ black carbon emissions in the Arctic through EU action