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Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Asked by Mr Angus MacDonaldLiberal DemocratDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 17 December 2025UIN 99655

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with the International Maritime Organisation on the designation of additional Emission Control Areas adjacent to the west coast of the United Kingdom.

Answered by Keir Mather

We, alongside EU partners, are leading work at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to bring in a new Emission Control Area (ECA) in the North-East Atlantic Ocean. This is a key measure, which covers over 5 million km2 of ocean, to reduce air pollutant emissions of vessels across the whole of the North East Atlantic and the west coast of the UK. We will continue to support and press for adoption of this vital measure at the 84th IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee in April 2026.

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