A Clean Arctic Alliance briefing ahead of the Pollution Prevention & Response Sub-committee (PPR 13) meeting of the IMO, 29th January 2026

Ahead of the 13th session of the IMO’s Pollution Prevention and Response sub-committee (PPR), which will meet from 9 to 13 February 2026, this online briefing organised by the Clean Arctic Alliance provides insights on likely discussions and desired outcomes of importance to ship operations in the Arctic, including reducing the impact of black carbon emissions, and addressing discharges of wastewater from exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) and sewage treatment. New proposals submitted for discussion at this meeting include an Arctic fuel measure which would reduce black carbon impacts in the Arctic and a ban on discharges of wastewater in particularly sensitive seas areas.

Here are some links that were referred to in during the briefing that might prove useful for those that joined:

• Relevant PPR 13 papers
• Health Impacts of Black Carbon Emissions Health Impacts of Black Carbon Emissions – Clean Arctic Alliance
• Black Carbon Emissions from Ships in the Arctic 2019 – 2024 Report: Five years of Black Carbon Emissions from Ships in the Arctic 2019 – 2024 – Clean Arctic Alliance
• Marine Residual Fuel Use in the Arctic in 2024 Technical Briefing: Marine Residual Fuel Use in the Arctic in 2024 – Clean Arctic Alliance
• Poison in the water: The call to ban scrubber discharge, Pacific Environment
• Infographic: Polar Fuels Can Reduce the Impact of Black Carbon on the Arctic

Watch: Video – Pre- IMO PPR13 Briefing: Black Carbon from Shipping, Scrubbers, Sewage and the Arctic