| During
week-long negotiations on strengthening marine engine and
fuels standards at the International Maritime Organization
in London, Bluewater Network called on the shipping industry
to slash smokestack pollution by 70 to 80 percent. We pressed
shippers to commit to serious pollution cuts to reduce premature
death, cancers and respiratory ailments suffered by people
living and working near ports. If not, the shipping industry
is likely to face stricter national and local standards where
people can no longer wait for international action.
The state of California and
the European Union were raised as models on numerous occasions
as areas where stringent ship pollution standards are planned.
This appeared to make an impression on some shipping nations,
but others continued to argue against anything beyond the
status quo.
By the end of the week engines
and fuels, the level of emissions reductions remains in play.
While 70 to 80 percent cuts air pollution are possible with
current technology, shipping allies leaned toward much weaker
reductions of 10 to 40 percent. Final standards will be discussed
over the next 12 months at meetings in Oslo, Norway, in November
and then back at the IMO in London in the spring and summer
of 2007. Bluewater Network will continue to lead the way to
cleaner pollution standards for the world’s shipping
fleet. |
Teri Shore of Bluewater Network
(center) represented Friends of the Earth International, along
with David Marshall of Clean Air Task Force (left) and Eelco
Leemans of North Sea Foundation (right.)
The International Maritime Organization
headquarters
in London. |
