Reduction of air pollution from ships will protect people and the environment

On May 1 2025, the Mediterranean Emission Control Area for Sulphur (SECA) has taken effect on the entire Mediterranean Sea. The regulation mandates ships to drastically reduce their toxic air pollutant emissions. The sulphur content of the fuel may not exceed 0.10%. This is a decrease by factor five compared to former regulation. 

The regulation is expected to decrease toxic air pollution exposure of about 250 million people living in the Mediterranean region. According to studies, decreased air pollutant concentration will benefit aquatic and land ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin, notably by preventing acidification. Human health benefits include the prevention of 1,100 premature deaths and 2,300 cases of childhood asthma every year. 

In contrast to North and Baltic Sea ECAs as well as to the most recently agreed North-Atlantic ECA, the Mediterranean ECA does not include nitrogen oxides. Therefore it is important to go the next step to put forward a regulatory framework that closes this gap and also harmonizes regulation throughout Europe. High concentrations of nitrogen oxides for example lead to summer smog in mediterranean cities that puts human health at serious risk. 

Although the SECA’s stricter rules represent a major success in reducing sulphur and particulate matter emissions, nitrogen oxide emissions remain under-regulated. 

Nitrogen dioxide measurements taken in Mediterranean port cities over one month in 2024 by NABU and its partner organisations show that 24% of the ports e.g. in Italy, Spain, and Greece exceed the legal annual EUs limit value for the protection of human health. The limit value set by the WHO is even exceeded in 97% of the measurements. In some places, nitrogen dioxide emissions are more than twice as high as legally permitted by the EU annual values. The measurement results underline the urgent need for tight regulation for ship nitrogen dioxide emission – simply to comply with existing EU limits. Establishing a Nitrogen Oxide Emission Control Area (NECA) represents a clear and necessary step which needs to be undertaken in the near future. 

Coordinating a broad coalition of NGOs NABU was pushing for an Emission Control Area (ECA) in the Mediterranean Sea. In 2017 the coalition launched their Rome Declaration. The signatories of this declaration urged policymakers to take action on shipping related air pollution and work in particular towards the establishment of a Mediterranean Emissions Control Area. “We are happy to welcome the successful implementation of this new Emission Control Area. It will reduce toxic air pollution exposure for 250 million people around the Mediterranean Sea and decrease acidification and toxification of water and soil. Unfortunately, not all ships will switch to clean fuels, but some may choose to comply by exhaust after treatment. By allowing such sulphur scrubbers as a mode of compliance we miss the chance to get rid of toxic heavy fuel oil and its threats to marine life. It’s time to ban this loophole that prolongs the utilization of the world’s most toxic fuels in shipping.” says Sönke Diesener Shipping Expert at NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union). 

Following some other comments from experts in waters and air conservation :

BirdLife Malta 

“Home to the largest shipping register in Europe, and also situated in the midst of global navigation routes, cleaner air emissions from shipping will benefit Malta at a national scale, bringing improved air quality for improved environmental public health. This milestone gives us hope that change to the better is possible, and we look forward to seeing a Nitrogen Emission Control Area being adopted next.”, says Nicholas Barbara, Head of Conservation at BirdLife Malta. 

Cittadini per l’aria 

“Let May 1st, 2025 be a turning point for the protection of air quality in port cities that, in Italy, are overwhelmingly affected by shipping emissions. The large network “Let the Mediterranean breathe” of committees and NGOs based in Italian port cities joins in celebrating the entering into force of the Mediterranean SECA and calls on the Italian authorities to guarantee its proper enforcement by significantly increasing the number and effectiveness of controls on ships” says Anna Gerometta, President of Cittadini per l’aria. 

Hellenic Ornithological Society 

“The designation of the Mediterranean as a Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) marks a decisive step toward improving air quality for millions of people. However, it is equally essential to establish a Nitrogen Oxide Emission Control Area (NECA) in order to further mitigate air pollution and protect both public health and the environment. Given that the latest measurements in Greek ports have shown excessive levels of air pollution — particularly in the port of Piraeus — now is the time to take proactive action and address this problem effectively.” says Giorgos Papadimitriou, Environmental Policy Officer at Hellenic Ornithological Society. 

Green Global Future 

“Next step is to get an even better integrated collaboration on SECA compliance between all involved states to make sure we achieve the full health benefits and maintain a level playing field for shipping. This is one of the key purposes of the EU-project LIFE4MECA,“ says Kaare Press-Kristensen, senior advisor in Green Global Future. 

ZERO 

Francisco Ferreira, President of ZERO in Portugal, said “The entry into force of the Mediterranean ECA is a key step towards a continuous area of reduced air pollution by ships with the recent decision by the International Maritime Organisation to go forward with the North Atlantic Ocean ECA in the future