New Study Finds Recent Shipping Fuel Standards Increasing Global Warming

A recent study published in the journal Nature reveals that new regulations to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from shipping may have unintentionally increased global temperatures. The International Maritime Organization’s 2020 mandate to lower sulfur content in shipping fuel aimed to improve air quality but has decreased sulfur dioxide emissions by around 80%, reducing the cooling effect that these aerosols had on the Earth’s atmosphere. The study estimates this change has resulted in a radiative forcing of +0.2 ± 0.11 Wm−2 over the global ocean, potentially doubling the warming rate in the 2020s compared to previous decades. This effect is linked to observed strong warming in 2023 and suggests significant changes in precipitation patterns. The study also indicates that marine cloud brightening could be a temporary geoengineering method to cool the climate, though it presents unique challenges. For the complete article, visit Nature’s website.