NO 2 Pollution Drop in Shipping: Lessons for a Cleaner Marine Future

During the COVID-19 lockdown, global shipping activities were significantly reduced. This provided a unique opportunity to study the impact of reduced marine traffic on nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) pollution, a key indicator of shipping emissions. Satellite data from TROPOMI showed a substantial decrease in NO 2 levels over major shipping routes like the North Atlantic, Arabian Sea, and North Sea. These routes saw a drop of around 10-20% in NO 2 during the lockdown. Similarly, prominent ports such as Callao, Santos, and Rotterdam also experienced a dramatic 30% reduction in NO 2 levels. The decrease in NO 2 was linked to the reduced number of cargo, passenger, fishing, and tanker vessels due to lockdown restrictions. This study underscores the need for stricter environmental policies in the shipping industry to protect the health of port cities and coastal regions.