The Clean Arctic Alliance is calling on Canada, Iceland and Norway to support a proposal to reduce black carbon emissions from international shipping in the Arctic, ahead of next month's meeting of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Pollution Prevention and Response committee.

The environmental coalition, comprising 24 organisations, said the three Arctic nations should demonstrate solidarity with Denmark and Greenland's proposal for mandatory restrictions on fuels used in Arctic waters.

Denmark, representing Greenland at the IMO, has submitted a proposal alongside France, Germany and the Solomon Islands for a new mandatory measure on "polar fuels". The proposal, designated PPR 13/6, would require that only cleaner fuels with low emissions of black carbon be used by ships sailing in the Arctic.

The IMO's PPR 13 committee is scheduled to meet from 9-13 February.

Dr Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, said: "As Arctic leaders, Canada, Iceland and Norway must show their support for an Arctic fuel proposal which sets out the characteristics of fuels that would be considered suitable for use in the Arctic — so-called polar fuels — at the IMO in February."

The coalition said support from the three nations is needed to follow up on the adoption of two emission control areas (ECAs) in the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea, and approval of a Northeast Atlantic ECA which is due to be adopted in 2026 and includes Iceland and Greenland's waters.

According to the Clean Arctic Alliance, while the ECAs address SOx and NOx air pollution, they do not adequately reduce emissions of black carbon, which the organisation describes as posing both health and climate risks in the Arctic.

Last October, the Nordic Council recommended that Nordic governments take action to require cleaner "polar" fuels be used in the Arctic. However, Denmark and Greenland are currently the only Nordic nations co-sponsoring the proposal for an Arctic fuel measure.

Canada's position

Andrew Dumbrille, Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance and Director of Equal Routes, a member organisation, said: "Canada has supported the need for regulating black carbon from shipping for many years at the IMO, and also in domestic climate and air pollution strategies. PPR 13 is a prime opportunity to put this into action."

Dumbrille added that a globally binding measure could clean the air for Indigenous and local communities, contribute to maintaining ice habitat for wildlife, and safeguard harvest rights.

Iceland's stance

Arni Finnsson, Board Chair at the Iceland Nature Conservation Association, said the proposal could improve air quality in Iceland's waters and reduce black carbon emissions originating within Iceland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from settling onto sea and land ice in the Arctic.

Finnsson said this pollution is speeding up melting, which in turn is contributing to the slowing down of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Iceland has previously identified a possible Atlantic current collapse as a security risk, according to Reuters.

Norway's role

Norway has already introduced an Emission Control Area in the Norwegian Sea which will take effect from March 1, 2027, and has supported the adoption of the Nordic Council Recommendation on action by Nordic governments on the use of polar fuels in the Arctic.

Karoline Andaur, CEO of WWF Norway, said: "Norway should support the proposal from Denmark, Greenland and others which with a wide scope can improve air quality in Norwegian waters, reduce black carbon emissions originating within Norway's EEZ from settling onto sea and land ice in the Arctic, and reduce the threat of heavy fuel oil spills."

The Clean Arctic Alliance campaigns to persuade governments to take action to protect the Arctic, its wildlife and its people.