Press Release: Commission proposes to cut sulphur dioxide emissions from shipping by 90 %

Better air quality is on the way, thanks to proposals from the European Commission to lower the sulphur content of shipping fuels.

The proposals should reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by up to 90 %, and fine particle emissions by up to 80 %. The benefits for public health will be between EUR 15 and 34 billion, far exceeding the expected costs, which are in the range of EUR 2.6 to 11 billion. With nearly half of Europe's population living in areas where EU air quality objectives are still not met, air pollution is one of the main environmental worries facing citizens.

• Primary Source

European Commission: Memo/11/512: Questions and Answers on the Commission proposal on sulphur emissions from maritime transport http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/512&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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