Greenland’s Naalakkersuisut (government) has publically backed an International Maritime Organization ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil by Arctic shipping.
Kåre Press-Kristensen, senior advisor to the Danish Ecological Council, a member of the Clean Arctic Alliance commented on the news: “We applaud Greenland’s government for speaking up for the much needed protection of the Arctic’s nature and communities, by supporting the banning of the world’s most polluting fuel – heavy fuel oil. After spending time measuring air pollution from cruise ships burning HFO in Greenland this summer, I’m very relieved that Greenlandic politicians support banning it.”
The Greenland government’s statement, published on the Naalakkersuisut’s website states: “Naalakkersuisut has agreed to actively work for a ban on HFO in the Arctic, via the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO). The prohibition must cover both navigation and transport of HFO in the Arctic.”
In April 2018, the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC72) agreed to move forward on developing of an Arctic ban on heavy fuel oil – which is already banned in Antarctic waters.
