Soot and the Warming Arctic
Rising global temperatures are melting Arctic sea ice faster than ever, opening new shipping routes that were once frozen year-round. But increased marine traffic comes with a hidden cost: black carbon, or soot, released from ships. When soot lands on ice and snow, it darkens surfaces, trapping heat from the sun and speeding up melting. “It ends up in a never-ending cycle of increased warming,” says Sian Prior, lead adviser for the Clean Arctic Alliance. This cycle not only accelerates Arctic warming but also disrupts weather patterns worldwide.
Political and Economic Hurdles to Cleaner Shipping
Countries including France, Germany, Denmark, and the Solomon Islands have proposed requiring Arctic-bound ships to use “polar fuels,” which are lighter and emit less carbon than traditional maritime fuels. The proposal would apply to all vessels north of the 60th parallel. But progress is slow. A 2024 ban on heavy fuel oil has had limited impact due to loopholes, and geopolitical tensions — including U.S. interests in Greenland — have pushed environmental concerns to the back burner. Even inside Arctic nations like Iceland, industries such as fishing resist stricter fuel regulations, complicating enforcement.
Shipping Traffic and Pollution on the Rise
Ship activity in the Arctic has surged in the past decade. Between 2013 and 2023, the number of vessels north of the 60th parallel increased by 37%, while the total distance traveled more than doubled. Black carbon emissions have risen accordingly, from 2,696 tonnes in 2019 to 3,310 tonnes in 2024, with fishing vessels as the largest contributors. Experts say regulating fuel is the most realistic way to curb emissions, since limiting traffic altogether is unlikely — Arctic routes save shipping companies days on journeys between Asia and Europe. Some companies, wary of environmental and safety risks, have pledged to avoid the Northern Sea Route, but without stricter regulations, the Arctic remains highly vulnerable.
