http://ens-news.com/ens/feb2003/2003-02-18-03.asp
ens
Tug of War Looms over Sulfur in EU Ship Fuel
BRUSSELS, Belgium, February 18, 2003 (ENS) - Shipping industry groups
and environmentalists are pulling in diametrically opposite
directions over draft European Union rules aimed at reducing ships'
sulfur emissions. The argument is a test case for European attitudes
to market based environmental policies as well as the EU's readiness
to go beyond global maritime norms.
The dispute centers on a legislative proposal released in November by
the European Commission, the main focus of which is limited legal
curbs on allowable sulfur in marine heavy fuel oil.
Sea France Cross Channel Ferry (Photo by Ian Britton courtesy FreeFoto)
Green groups describe the plan as clearly inadequate and are
demanding far tougher sulfur limits. But the shipping industry is
pressing for a complete change in policy to one based on flue gas
desulfurization combined with emissions trading.
Ships burn high sulfur fuel that is responsible for sulfur dioxide
emissions. Regionally, these emissions contribute to acid rain, which
can pollute waterways and damage forests and crops.
The Swedish NGO Secretariat for Acid Rain and fellow groups argue
that the European Union must aim to cut ship sulfur emissions by 80
percent between 2000 and 2010, whereas the Commission's proposal
would deliver less than 10 percent. This can only be achieved by
taking bold unilateral steps fuel sulphur limits agreed through the
International Maritime Organization, they say.
Under the Commission's proposals a main provision of the draft
directive would be a 1.5 percent sulfur limit applied only in three
internationally agreed sulfur control areas. The NGOs want instead a
0.5 percent sulfur limit on fuels burned anywhere within 200 miles of
EU coasts and an even stricter 0.2 percent limit within 12 miles.
Shipping industry groups, such as the European Community Shipowners
Association, oppose any such unilateral EU action and believe fuel
sulfur curbs on the scale demanded by green groups would contravene
the International Law of the Sea.
Meanwhile, a group set up to coordinate industry positions on the law
is proposing a radically different approach based on cleaning sulfur
from emissions and introducing trading of emission allowances.
Shipping Emissions Abatement and Trading believes the two options
could achieve the 10 percent emissions cut sought by the Commission
at about Û220 million less cost than curbs on sulfur in fuel.
Alternatively, it reckons spending the same amount of money could
yield something like a 50 percent cut in emissions. In addition,
seawater scrubbing of sulfur would remove 80 percent of particulate
emissions, the shipping organization claims.
The group is disappointed that the Commission did not take up these
ideas in its legislative proposal but appears ready to fight on. The
European Parliament's rapporteur on the directive, Heidi Hautala, is
being touted as a possible ally. Though Hautala has called for tough
legal limits on sulfur in fuel, she is also "very interested in
trading," according to one industry source.
{Published in cooperation with ENDS Environment Daily, Europe's
choice for environmental news. Environmental Data Services Ltd,
London. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Biofuels at Journey to Forever
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