environmental footprint

Maps of EU predict future climate impacts

The European Environment Agency (EEA) published a series of maps which present the scale of possible forest fires, floods, droughts and deluges that Europe could face by the end of the century, if no action is taken to tackle climate change and global warming.

The EEA states that the impact of climate change will be less severe if the efforts to reduce emissions are successful in keeping the global temperature increase well below 2°C, as required by the Paris Agreement. Any higher emissions...

https://safety4sea.com/maps-of-eu-predict-future-climate-impacts/

Sinopec to close Tianjin refinery to prepare for LSFO

According to Reuters, Sinopec Corp’s refinery and petrochemical complex in Tianjin will shut down for two months, starting in early May, for a regular revamp with the aim to cut its crude throughput by about 2 million tonnes this year.

In fact, the plant which is located in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin, will also undergo retooling work that will allow production of lower-sulfur refined products, including marine bunker fuel that meets new global emission rules.

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https://safety4sea.com/sinopec-to-close-tianjin-refinery-to-prepare-for-lsfo/

EU: 2020 is the time to act more eco-friendly

The European Environmental Agency launched the “European environment – state and outlook 2020” providing information on dealing with the climate change, biodiversity loss and air and water pollution.

Key features:
  1. EU faces persistent environmental challenges;
  2. Awareness about the environmental and climate crisis is increasing across society;
  3. Achieving sustainability transitions will depend on coherent contributions across all policy domains;
  4. There are opportunities to reorient the financial...

https://safety4sea.com/eu-2020-is-the-time-to-act-more-eco-friendly/

S. Korea enforces speed reduction program

South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries began the “Vessel Speed Reduction Program” in December 2019, in efforts to reduce fine dust from ships and protect the marine environment.

Accordingly, the Ministry informed that the program was supposed to come into force on January 2020, but began earlier in efforts to reduce fine dust levels during winter.

The newly launched program requires that ships will have their port fees lowered when they enter ports at a speed below certain levels.

The...

https://safety4sea.com/s-korea-enforces-speed-reduction-program/

Renewed cooperation needed to achieve decarbonization

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, IMO’s Secretary General, Kitack Lim, called for renewed cooperation from all shipping stakeholders in efforts to deal with air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.

Specifically, Kitack Lim highlighted the importance of IMO’s role in setting regulations, as the new regulatory targets will be a catalyst for technology, triggering research, development and innovation, adding that now is the time to start developing the vessels, the fuels,...

https://safety4sea.com/renewed-cooperation-needed-to-achieve-decarbonization/

Scientists propose ‘mobile’ marine protected areas

Now that the talks for the update of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) have begun concerning protected marine environments, a group of scientists proposed new techniques to allow protected zones to change, as species move under the climate change.

Specifically, world leaders are updating laws for international waters that apply to the majority of the global marine environment, providing the opportunity to scientists to introduce new techniques on the protected...

https://safety4sea.com/scientists-propose-mobile-marine-protected-areas/

Shipping decarbonization needs more than $1 trillion investment

Following the implementation of the 2020 sulphur cap on January 1st 2020, a study launched focuses on the importance of new investments into new fuel production, supply chains and a new or retrofitted fleet to achieve the decarbonization in the next three decades.

The importance of investments 

Specifically, the study conducted by University Maritime Advisory Services (UMAS) and Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) for the Getting to Zero Coalition highlights that at least $1 trillion of capital...

https://safety4sea.com/shipping-decarbonization-needs-more-than-1-trillion-investment/

Wärtsilä converts Brazilian plant improving environmental footprint

Wärtsilä, the Finnish technology Group, has signed a deal to convert a Brazilian power plant to a 100% natural gas operation, reducing the plant’s operational costs and improve its environmental impact.

The contract with Rio Amazonas Energia (RAESA) is for the Cristiano Rocha power plant in Manaus, Brazil, and was signed in November 2019. In addition to the conversion, the two companies have signed a long-term service agreement with power plant performance guarantees.

Specifically, the conversion...

https://safety4sea.com/wartsila-converts-brazilian-plant-improving-environmental-footprint/

Climate crisis one of top five risks for World Economic Forum

This is the first time in its 15-year history, that the environment is at the top of list of issues likely to have a major impact over the next decade, as a year of extreme weather events and growing evidence of global heating catapulted the climate emergency to the top of the list of issues worrying the world’s elite.

Namely, the Global Risks Report 2020 warns for the severe threats to the climate account for all of the Global Risks Report’s top long-term risks, while “economic confrontations”...

https://safety4sea.com/climate-crisis-one-of-top-five-risks-for-world-economic-forum/

EU launches European Green Deal Investment Plan

The European Union presented the European Green Deal’s Investment Plan – the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan, which will attract public investment and unlock private funds through EU financial instruments, most importantly InvestEU, which can lead to at least €1 trillion of investments.

Specifically, to support the EU Green Deal, the EU aims to mobilize investments in the next ten years to support its goals towards climate neutrality by 2050; the half of the amount will come from the EU...

https://safety4sea.com/eu-launches-european-green-deal-investment-plan/

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