IMO urged to take action on black carbon emissions

摘要

Three countries - Norway, Sweden and the United States - are asking the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to take action to reduce shipping emissions of black carbon (BC).In a joint submission to the next meeting of the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), to be held in London on 22-26 March, the three countries conclude that:The Arctic climate is warming much faster than the rest of the planet;Rapid melting of Arctic land- and sea-ice is accelerating that warming;Black carbon emissions, especially when deposited on land- and sea-ice, are a significant contributor to that warming and melting;Reductions of black carbon now, can provide short-term climate responses that are absolutely necessary to forestall a climate tipping point, and Reductions of black carbon will have positive effects on human health.