media advisory
bluewater network / friends of the earth
international
lax norms foster shipping pollution
shipping industry must regulate to reduce
climate change impact and damage to health
and environment
LONDON (UK) July 18, 2005 -- Environmental
groups said today that the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) is failing to
protect the environment and human health from
global shipping pollution.
The London-based organization which
regulates shipping across the world is being
called on to take urgent action to protect
public health and the environment by reducing
toxic pollutants and the emissions causing
climate change.
The Bluewater Network, Friends of the
Earth International and Coalition for a Safe
Environment say the IMO is failing by:
-
not setting stringent standards for
marine fuel quality and ship engine
emissions;
-
allowing shipping companies to evade
tighter standards by registering vessels
with 'flags of convenience' nations;
and
-
allowing these nations to control the
IMO process for setting environmental
standards.
Ships transport 90% of the world's
consumer goods. Commercial ships produce 30
per cent of the world's smog-forming,
nitrogen oxide emissions and four per cent of
the world's carbon dioxide emissions.
ollution from ships is due to rise as
shipping cargo volume triple by 2030. As a
result, toxic air emissions from ship
smokestacks are polluting port communities
where local people bear the burden of
expanding world trade and cheap goods with
higher cancer and asthma rates and degraded
quality of life.
photos available:
Activists dressed as pirates in front of
the IMO Headquarters raise the issue of the
shipping industry's environmental piracy.
for more information:
Teri Shore, Bluewater Network (Friends of
the Earth US ) + 44 78 10 558 249 (till 20/7
then + 1 415 544 0790 ext. 20)
Jesse Marquez, Coalition for a Safe
Environment +44 78 10 558 249 (till 20/7)
then + 1 310 704 1265
Eelco Leemans, North See Foundation + 31 6
46 118 649
Niccolo Sarno, Friends of the Earth
International + 31 20 622 1369
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