NIMASA: Carbon emissions from ships worry organization
…conveys forum to tackle it
Worried by the impact on carbon emissions from ships, and the urgent need to arrest it, as well as guide against any similar harmful sources in the maritime sector, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has convened a forum to tackle the issue.
Speaking at a one-day stakeholders’ forum on marine pollution annex VI and other emerging issues on climate change, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, stated that stakeholders were concerned about the carbon footprints of Nigeria; and had the desire to address the problem and improve the condition, as well as, the living standards of the people already threatened by the impact of climate change.
He said, “In recognition of the intense focus climate change is receiving within the international maritime organisation, the Kyoto Protocol designated the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, as the agency to deal with greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
He said,“Since the world economy relies on shipping, it is just a simple fact that sustainable development will rely on a sustainable and efficient maritime transportation system.”
He added that the IMO was developing a data collection system for ships’ fuel consumption since carbon emission and fuel efficiency were directly linked.
According to Peterside, NIMASA, as part of its responsibilities with regard to greenhouse gas emission from ships and other maritime sources, has, among other strategies, been building capacity on issues of climate change, collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Environment to create detailed action plan that would assist the nation to effectively address climate change issues as they affect the maritime industry.
He said the agency had also held discussions with the Department of Petroleum Resources on the quality of fuel oil supply to vessels in line with the IMO sulfur content specification of 0.5mm by 2020.
Maritime transport emits around 1000 million tonnes of CO2 annually ;and is responsible for about 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions (3rd IMO GHG study). Shipping emissions are predicted to increase between 50% and 250% by 2050 – depending on future economic and energy developments.
