This section provides a comprehensive collection of documents and resources usefull in the early stages of establishing the Mediterranean Emission Control Area (ECA). It also includes an extensive review of existing measurements in MED Ports available in scientific literature, along with the ones conducted during the LIFE4MEDECA project.
These preliminary studies form the foundation for identifying the region’s environmental challenges and air quality concerns, supporting the development of effective maritime emission control strategies within the Mediterranean.
The MEDECA study was conducted and published in autumn 2018. A complementary study was commissioned by Cerema’s Maritime Affaires department to conduct additional analysis of certain impacts of the project. This study addresses two issues: the consequences of the creation of a SECA in the Mediterranean for commercial routes; and the number of years required for complete renewal of the Mediterranean fleet.
ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT EVALUATION PURSUANT TO THE ROAD MAP FOR A PROPOSAL FOR THE POSSIBLE DESIGNATION OF THE MED SOx ECA
This report presents the results of the knowledge gathering and the further study completed and carried out under LOT 4 – Regional (Additional economic impact evaluation) pursuant to the Road Map for a Proposal for the Possible Designation of the Mediterranean Sea, as a whole, as an Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides (Med SOX ECA).
Ship traffic emissions degrade air quality in coastal areas and contribute to climate impacts globally. The estimated health burden of exposure to shipping emissions in coastal areas may inform policy makers as they seek to reduce exposure and associated potential health impacts. This work estimates the PM2.5 attributable impacts in the form of premature mortality and cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions, from long-term exposure to shipping emissions. Health impact assessment (HIA) was performed in 8 Mediterranean coastal cities, using a baseline conditions from the literature and a policy case accounting for the MARPOL Annex VI rules requiring cleaner fuels in 2020.
The scope of the study is to present the latest developments in passenger shipping in Greece and the challenges that it faces and to highlight its contribution to the Greek economy at national and local level. The contribution of passenger shipping to the economy includes the direct, indirect and induced effects of the transportation services by sea (domestic and Adriatic passenger routes), together with the wider effects associated with the development of other sectors (such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and exports) through freight and passenger transportation over regular shipping routes.
This study explores the impacts of alternative emission control interventions for international shipping on the European Seas on relevant air pollutant emissions, examines their consequence on ambient air quality in Europe and the neighbouring regions, and explores the resulting improvements of human health. It estimates the costs of the various policy interventions, and compares them with monetized benefits on human health and other impacts.
The sulfur content of marine fuel is limited by regulation when ships sail inside designated Sulfur Emission Control Areas (SECAs). This policy has clear environmental and health benefits, but it also increases the cost of maritime transport and can potentially affect trade. We develop a specific modelling framework to measure the impact of the future Mediterranean SECA in 2025, considering its effects at the trade level and country level. Our framework leads to the estimation of 30 augmented gravity models for 445,506 bilateral maritime flows and for 15 different products. Our estimates show a potential reduction in the value of trade estimated at −1.0 % with a reduction of −1.1 % for imports and −0.8 % for exports. The sectors the most affected in percentage terms are foodstuffs, animal products and vegetable products. Our estimations also show that the countries that will be the most affected could be Syria (-1.5 %), Lebanon (-1.4 %) and Spain (-1.0 %).
THE MEDECA MEASUREMENTS
Explore how these findings are shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future for the Mediterranean region. Through the LIFE4MEDECA project, we share the journey of how air quality measurements were conducted in major Mediterranean port cities. This section reveals the methods and processes behind these crucial assessments, offering an in-depth look at the qualitative results that paint a clear picture of the current state of air quality.
