{"id":2,"date":"2024-10-31T16:32:58","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T16:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clearseas.org\/air-pollution-new\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-03-24T14:16:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T21:16:13","slug":"sample-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/clearseas.org\/air-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Air Pollution & Marine Shipping<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

#sustainableshipping #airpollution #gettingtozero<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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While essential to the world\u2019s economy and well-being, the commercial marine shipping industry is a major contributor to global air pollution and without action, the industry\u2019s emissions are expected to increase.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These emissions can harm human health and our environment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New regulations and practical initiatives are planned or in force to reduce the amount of air pollution produced by ships.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This site\u2019s purpose is to share objective information about the impacts of air pollution from the marine shipping industry \u2013 including the types of air pollution ships emit, how these emissions are harmful, and what\u2019s being done to reduce them \u2013 and to encourage informed conversations about these issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This site was created by Clear Seas<\/a>, a Canadian not-for-profit organization that provides independent fact-based information to enable governments, industry, and the public to make informed decisions on marine shipping issues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Marine Shipping\u2019s Impact on World Air Pollution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Ships move more than 80% of the world\u2019s goods<\/a>.[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/span> When compared to other forms of transportation, marine shipping is the most energy-efficient way to move large volumes of cargo.[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like all other forms of transportation that burn hydrocarbon fuels for energy, ships create air pollution that degrades air quality, adversely affects human health and contributes to the wide-reaching effects of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more about air pollution health impacts from all sources<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Energy Efficiency of Transportation Modes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Distance 1 tonne of cargo can travel on 1 litre of fuel in Canada\u2019s Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Transferring cargo from trucks or trains onto ships and barges where possible, called short-sea shipping, can reduce overall transportation emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While responsible for the release of less greenhouse gas (GHG) per tonne-kilometre of cargo transported than other forms of transportation[8]<\/a><\/sup>, ships contributed approximately 3% of the world\u2019s total GHG emissions in 2018.[9]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In coming years, global shipping traffic is expected to grow in response to increased trade. Unless additional measures to limit emissions from ships are adopted and implemented, GHG emissions from shipping could increase by as much as 90% to 130% of 2008 emissions by 2050, depending on economic conditions.[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Types of Air Pollution from Marine Shipping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Commercial ships burn fuel for energy and emit several types of air pollution as by-products. Ship-source pollutants most closely linked to climate change and public health impacts greenhouse gases (GHG)[11]<\/a><\/sup>, nitrogen oxides (NOx<\/sub>), sulphur oxides (SOx<\/sub>) and particulate matter.[12]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a global scale, the marine shipping industry\u2019s share of total emissions from human sources is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GHG<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.9%<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

per year<\/strong>[13]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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NOx<\/strong>

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19%<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

per year<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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SOx<\/strong>

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9%<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

per year[13]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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For context, Canada\u2019s annual contribution from all sources to global CO<\/strong>2<\/sub> emissions is 1.5%.<\/strong>[14]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more about climate change<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Pollution Types from Marine Shipping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Greenhouse Gas (GHG)<\/div>\n
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Primary GHG emissions include carbon dioxide (CO2<\/sub>), methane (CH4<\/sub>), and nitrous oxide (N2<\/sub>O), which contribute to climate change and ocean acidification.<\/strong><\/p>\n