Environmental advocates have condemned the Romssa-Tromsø Statement for failing to tackle urgent short-lived climate pollutants like black carbon and methane, urging the Arctic Council and shipping industry to adopt stronger measures and accelerate reductions to protect the rapidly warming Arctic.
The recent Romssa-Tromsø Statement, released following the Arctic Council’s latest meeting in May, has drawn significant criticism from environmental advocates, particularly regarding its failure to address the urgent need to combat short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon and methane. Dr Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, voiced her concerns, stating that the statement represents a missed opportunity to recognise the severe impact of climate change on the Arctic, a region already experiencing warming at rates four times faster than the global average.
The demand for meaningful action comes on the heels of a growing understanding of how these pollutants affect not just the Arctic, but the planet as a whole. Black carbon, a byproduct of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, contributes significantly to global warming, with its warming potential estimated to be over three thousand times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Shipping is notably a major source, with emissions from this sector doubling in recent years despite prior commitments by Arctic nations to reduce such emissions by between 25% and 33% by 2025.
The Clean Arctic Alliance has called for the new leadership under the Kingdom of Denmark to take decisive action towards curbing these emissions. Prior emphasised the urgency for the shipping industry to transition to fuels that produce significantly less black carbon, highlighting the available alternatives that could mitigate the ongoing environmental crisis in the Arctic. Andrew Dumbrille, a Special Advisor to the Alliance, supported Prior’s comments, noting that delaying discussions on black carbon targets until 2029 neglects the immediate need to protect Arctic communities and ecosystems from these pollutants.
Both black carbon and methane are now widely recognised as “super pollutants,” with methane alone accounting for approximately 30% of the global climate crisis. Its impact is particularly pronounced in the Arctic, where thawing permafrost is releasing huge amounts of stored methane into the atmosphere. In fact, the situation has reached a tipping point where some experts have dubbed it a “ticking methane bomb.” The Arctic Council’s Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane is tasked with addressing these issues, yet stakeholders argue that the current measures, such as promoting an increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping, are counterproductive.
The rise of LNG as a marine fuel in Arctic operations—from zero usage in 2014 to nearly 878,000 nautical miles in 2024—has not only added complexity to emissions discussions but has also raised alarms over the environmental footprint of such practices. This further complicates the goal of reducing methane emissions, as the extraction and transportation of LNG are fraught with leaks and other environmental concerns.
In light of these significant challenges, stakeholders are urging the Arctic Council to align its commitments more closely with global agreements like the Global Methane Pledge, which aims for a substantial reduction of methane emissions. Calls for an ambitious strategy that includes a target for methane reduction of 40% by 2030 from 2020 levels have become increasingly pronounced. Civil society initiatives, such as the Beyond Methane Pledge, propose phasing out methane-based LNG as a shipping fuel, which underscores the critical need for collaborative action across Arctic Council member states.
Without immediate and concerted efforts to address the combined threats of black carbon and methane, the consequences for the Arctic will be dire, reverberating globally as the region continues to serve as a critical barometer for climate change. The latest developments signal that while some progress has been made, much more is needed to combat the escalating crisis facing not just the Arctic, but the broader planetary climate system.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/05/19/arctic-council-misses-opportunity-to-cut-climate-warming-super-pollutants/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/international-affairs/partnerships-organizations/arctic-reducing-black-carbon-methane.html – This page outlines Canada’s involvement in the Arctic Council’s Framework for Action on Enhanced Black Carbon and Methane Emissions Reductions. It details the commitments made by Arctic States to reduce black carbon and methane emissions, including the establishment of the Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane (EGBCM) and the collective goal to reduce black carbon emissions by 25-33% below 2013 levels by 2025. The framework emphasizes national and collective actions to mitigate climate change and improve air quality in the Arctic region.
- https://www.ccacoalition.org/news/arctic-countries-commit-reduce-black-carbon-emissions-much-third – This article reports on the Arctic Council’s commitment to reducing black carbon emissions by 25-33% below 2013 levels by 2025. The decision was made during the 10th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Fairbanks, USA, as part of the Fairbanks Declaration. The article highlights the significance of this commitment in addressing Arctic warming and the need for global efforts to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.
- https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-pollution/publications/black-carbon-inventory-emissions-2025.html – This report presents Canada’s annual inventory of black carbon emissions, providing estimates at national, provincial, and territorial levels. It discusses the sources of black carbon, including diesel engines, residential burning of biomass, and oil and gas flaring. The report also highlights Canada’s commitment to reducing black carbon emissions and its contributions to the Arctic Council’s collective goal of reducing emissions by 25-33% below 2013 levels by 2025.
- https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/collections/b996045a-5b75-4d90-876b-552232792e39 – This page provides access to the Arctic Council’s Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane (EGBCM) documents. The EGBCM assesses progress towards reducing black carbon and methane emissions in the Arctic, offering recommendations for further action. The documents include summaries of progress and recommendations, as well as reports on the status of black carbon and methane emissions in the Arctic region.
- https://www.arcticwwf.org/newsroom/news/critical-next-steps-for-black-carbon-regulations-at-ppr-12/ – This article discusses the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Pollution Prevention and Response Sub-Committee (PPR 12) meeting held in January 2025. The focus was on advancing discussions to reduce black carbon emissions from ships operating in the Arctic. The article emphasizes the need for regulations to identify cleaner fuels suitable for the Arctic region and highlights the urgency of addressing black carbon pollution to protect the Arctic ecosystem.
- https://cleanarctic.org/2025/01/24/ppr-12-shipping-nations-must-switch-to-cleaner-fuels-to-cut-black-carbon-pollution/ – This briefing by the Clean Arctic Alliance calls for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce the impact of black carbon emissions from shipping in the Arctic. It urges IMO member states to agree on regulations that identify cleaner fuels suitable for the Arctic and to prevent ocean pollution in protected and sensitive seas. The article highlights the urgency of addressing black carbon pollution to protect the Arctic environment and communities.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references recent developments like the Romssa-Tromsø Statement and the Arctic Council’s meeting in May 2025, indicating that the information is up to date.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
While specific quotes from Dr. Sian Prior and Andrew Dumbrille are provided, the earliest known references for these quotes could not be verified online. It is possible that these quotes are original to this report.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from Cyprus Shipping News, which is not a widely recognized major news outlet. Its reliability is not established like that of major publications such as the Financial Times or BBC.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the impact of black carbon and methane in the Arctic are supported by scientific understanding and recent trends in environmental discussions. The narrative aligns with known environmental concerns and global efforts to reduce emissions.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be current, focusing on recent developments in the Arctic Council. However, the quotes could not be verified as original, and the source is not a major recognized news outlet. The plausibility of the claims is high due to alignment with known environmental issues.
