Press Release: Clean ships get into gear after years of slow steaming

The European Union took an important step on 28 June 2004 towards decreasing sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from ships. SO2 is an air pollutant which causes health problems and acidifies lake and forest ecosystems. Ships have become the single biggest source of SO2 in the EU, because the maritime sector has lagged behind land-based industry in terms of environmental performance. In reaching a political agreement on the Commission's marine fuel sulphur proposal, the Environment Council has agreed to reduce ships' SO2 emissions in the EU by over 500,000 tonnes every year from 2007, to the benefit of human health and the environment.

The only five EU countries which have ratified MARPOL Annex VI, the International Maritime Organization's 1997 air pollution convention, are: Denmark; Germany; Greece; Spain; and Sweden.

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/environment/ppps/home.htm http://ec.europa.eu/comm/environment/ppps/home.htm

http://www.imo.org/Conventions/contents.asp?doc_id=678&topic_id=258 http://www.imo.org/Conventions/contents.asp?doc_id=678&topic_id=258

European Commission; DG Environment: Policies: Air http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/index_en.htm

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