A review of ship emissions impacts on environmental, health, societal impacts and IMO's mitigation policies

Abstract

Shipping, an integral part of global commerce, facilitates trade while significantly contributing to air pollution. It is imperative to reduce these emissions because of their severe consequences affecting public health and the climate. To address these concerns, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has taken a promising step by introducing emission reduction strategies, which initially target a 40 % cut in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 compared to the 2008 emission level. This review critically examines the environmental impacts of ship emissions, focusing particularly on-air quality in coastal regions while also acknowledging the broader economic and societal implications. The study reviewed scholarly articles on ship emission effects on the coastal environment, health, societal impacts, and IMO's GHG reduction policies framework for mitigating these detrimental effects. Findings suggest that implementing IMO's policies to combat ship emissions has improved environmental, health, and societal impacts. However, policies need to be specifically designed to achieve IMO's zero-emission target. This paper will review the potential impacts of ship emissions on coastal air quality and the effectiveness of the IMO's reduction measures.