Thread by @CleanArctic

#Breaking: @IMOHQ & Arctic States Slammed for Endorsing Continued Arctic Pollution by approving "outrageous" weak heavy fuel oil ban bit.ly/38ZP40s #mepc75

.@CleanArctic slammed the decision by @IMOHQ to approve a ban ridden with of loopholes on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic (HFO), saying that it would leave the Arctic, its Indigenous communities and its wildlife facing risk of a HFO spill for another decade

The ban was approved during a virtual meeting of the @iMo’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (#MEPC 75), despite widespread opposition from Indigenous groups, NGOs and in a statement release this week, the Catholic Church. bit.ly/38ZP40s

“By taking decision to storm ahead with approval of outrageous ban @IMOHQ & member states must take responsibility for failing to put in place true protection of #Arctic, Indigenous communities & wildlife from the threat of heavy fuel oil” @Sian_Prior9 bit.ly/38ZP40s

“In its current form, the ban will achieve only a minimal reduction in HFO use & carriage by ships in Arctic in mid-2024, when it comes into effect. It is crucial that Arctic coastal states do not issue waivers to their flagged vessels”. @Sian_Prior9 bit.ly/38ZP40s

HFO is a dirty and polluting fossil fuel that powers shipping throughout world’s oceans – accounting for 80% of marine fuel used worldwide. Around 80% of marine fuel currently carried in Arctic is HFO; over 1/2 by vessels flagged to non-Arctic states.

As Arctic heating drives sea ice melt and opens up Arctic waters further, even larger non-Arctic state-flagged vessels running on HFO are likely to divert to Arctic waters in search of shorter journey times.

This, combined with an increase in Arctic state-flagged vessels targeting previously non-accessible resources, will greatly increase the risks of HFO spills in areas that are difficult to reach, and that lack any significant oil spill containment equipment.

According to recent analysis by @TheICCT @BryanComerPhD regulation approved today will only reduce the use of HFO by 16% & carriage of HFO as fuel by 30% when it takes effect in July 2024, and will allow 74% of Arctic shipping to continue with biz as usual theicct.org/publications/a…

“The ban @IMOHQ has approved today will mean that a full 3/4 ships using HFO today will be eligible for an exemption to ban, because their fuel tanks are ‘protected’, or because they can apply to Arctic coastal state for a waiver from ban” @Sian_Prior9 bit.ly/38ZP40s

“As a result, use of HFO in Arctic is likely to continue to grow until the ban takes full effect in 2029 - so not only does ban not sufficiently protect Arctic, it’s actually contributing to a greater exposure to risks of HFO” @Sian_Prior9 bit.ly/38ZP40s

“@CleanArctic urges @IMOHQ Member States to seriously consider how ban can be strengthened ahead of formal adoption next year & for individual states to examine domestic options for providing protection required for Arctic from risks of HFO" @Sian_Prior9 bit.ly/38ZP40s

‘All Arctic states need to eliminate HFO use by 2024 to ensure HFO ban fulfils original intent. Food security & livelihoods of local & Indigenous communities is dependent upon success of ban to protect from pollution & spills" Andrew Dumbrille @WWFCanada bit.ly/38ZP40s

"HFO spill in Arctic waters, where our people have survived & depended on for 1000s of years, would devastate our subsistence way of life. Sensitive marine wildlife we depend on for food, such as seals, whales, walrus, fish & birds would be devastated." @SenatorSalmon @foe_us

"We have a major concern that the use of waivers will create a risk of transboundary HFO pollution in the #BeringStraits region where my family lives between #Russia and #Alaska USA" @SenatorSalmon @foe_us bit.ly/38ZP40s

“Instead of an effective and ambitious ban on use of heavy fuel oil in Arctic waters, the IMO has committed Arctic shipping to a course of action that may lead to a devastating spill of the world’s dirtiest fuels" Sarah Bobbe @OurOcean bit.ly/38ZP40s #mepc75

“A ‘ban’ that affects just a quarter of ships is not a ban at all”, said John Maggs, Senior Policy Advisor at @SeasAtRisk. "The IMO’s new regulation fails to treat all flags equally" bit.ly/38ZP40s #mepc75

“We are also concerned that issuing waivers will relax international environmental standards in waters of the Arctic coastal States" John Maggs @SeasAtRisk bit.ly/38ZP40s #mepc75

Because waivers would weaken the protection of the marine environment in these areas, it raises important legal questions” John Maggs @SeasAtRisk bit.ly/38ZP40s #mepc75

"Here's what today's #MEPC75 decision to approve the Arctic HFO "ban" will look like... The exemption and waiver loopholes remain open, meaning very little HFO use will be banned until July 2029 when they expire." @BryanComerPhD

https://twitter.com/BryanComerPhD/status/1329782724765356033?s=20

1/2 "An HFO ban encompasses just one of the many actions that we think is vital to continuing our way life we have enjoyed for millennia. Climate change is clearly making possible dramatic increases to shipping activity in the Gulf of Anydyr, northern Bering Sea, Bering Strait"

2/2 "As transits increase along NSR. As @IMOHQ makes decisions about future of our indigenous way of life related to #climatechange it seems that accelerator is being mashed & possibly threatening Arctic way of life & perhaps the whole world." Austin Ahmusak @KawerakInc

“We urge the five central coastal Arctic states to choose not to issue waivers in order to ensure that the use and carriage of HFO in the Arctic ends by 2024." @daniellegrabiel @EIAEnvironment @EIA_News bit.ly/38ZP40s #mepc75

“The Government of #Iceland should take note of the leadership demonstrated by Norway in its proposal to ban HFO from waters around Svalbard by putting forward a plan for similar protection in Iceland’s waters” @ArniFinnsson @katrinjak @SigurdurIngiJ bit.ly/38ZP40s

"Iceland must forge ahead with total ban on HFO & along with other Nordic countries must take a strong stand within the IMO to speed up the adoption & entry into force of a ban on HFO in Arctic waters.” @ArniFinnsson @katrinjak @SigurdurIngiJ bit.ly/38ZP40s

“@gronomstilling recommends #Denmark & #Greenland to introduce high port fees for ships using HFO in Arctic motivating biz to use less polluting distillate fuel to protect population & unique ecosystems from global warming #airpollution & oil spills” Kare Press-Kristensen #dkpol

"What #Arctic needs is better protection & bold politicians. There are no tech barriers, no shortage of alternatives to HFO & #shippingindustry needs to switch from fossil fuels to fulfill @IMOHQ Greenhouse gas strategy & Arctic waters are place to start" @SigurdEnge @Bellona_no