News
Publish date: December 1, 2011
Written by: Ruth Lothe
Translated by: Charles Digges
News
Søyland was invited to represent Bellona and the Clean Shipping Coalition, the only global international environmental organization that focuses exclusively on shipping issues.
Søyland pointed out in his 10-minute introduction which measures for air and sea transport must implement with a quantum leap in order that UN International Panel on Climate Change’s recommendations of an 85 percent cut in emssions by 2050 be reached.
“Despite the fact that there are many good solutions on the table, there is no doubt that the players in the air and sea transport industry must take a quantum leap in the air requirements that should be met, said Søyland to the audience of delegates from the some 200 national states, UN agencies and environmental organizations participating in the Durban climate summit.
“Climate change challenges have created pioneers in the shipping industry,”he said. “Bellona is proud to be partners with Eidesvik and Wilhelmsen, both of which present very good examples of environmentally friendly solutions for shipping. “
Read more and watch the video on the Wilhemsen concept ship E/S Orcelle – a ship that runs on solar, wind, wave and fuel cells – here. The ship produces zero emissions.
A good framework
Søyland’s presentation also emphasized the benefits for companies that go forward with good climate policy, which will put them ahead of the game in the long view.
“Such investment gains will be easier to get through a clearer and more predictable framework for international climate policy, and all the actors here in Durban play a central role,” Søyland concluded.
Throughout the past year, our mission at the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center has focused on two key, but intertwined issues—nuclear and radiation safety as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drags on, and the worldwide influence of Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, which itself is actively involved in the war and has participated in the occupation of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant.
At the beginning of the year, reports in the German and Russian press suggested an approximate 70% increase in uranium imports from Russia to Germany in 2024. But does this reflect broader European trends? It does not. Overall, imports of uranium and nuclear fuel from Russia to Western countries actually dropped sharply in 2024. Unlike the situation in Germany, this is already an established trend.
A Lingen, Germany plant could begin producing nuclear fuel in cooperation with a subsidiary of Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear corporation, which is directly involved in the war in Ukraine and occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.