The Arctic’s dirty secret: Scientists urge immediate action to curb black carbon

By Mary McAuliffe October 28, 2025
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Scientists warn that unregulated emissions of black carbon from global shipping traffic is accelerating Arctic warming by introducing dangerous pollutants.
The Suncor Energy Refinery amid extreme cold weather, with temperatures falling below -32°C, in North East Edmonton, AB, Canada, on February 03, 2025. Artur Widak via Reuters Connect

Arctic shipping is booming. But with the increased traffic has come a growing danger to the environmentally delicate region: black carbon.

A report from the Clean Arctic Alliance is shedding light on the dangers posed by this climate “super-pollutant” whose emissions cause up to 1,500 times more warming than CO2 per mass. When these soot-like particles settle on ice and snow, they darken the surface, absorb more sunlight, and dramatically speed up melting. The result is rising seas, shifting weather patterns, and greater threats to Arctic ecosystems and indigenous communities, according to the report.

Lead authors Kay Brown and Sophia Ptáček argue that despite more than a decade of debate at the International Maritime Organization, black carbon from Arctic maritime shipping remains unregulated, with only a voluntary resolution and guidance in place:

“Targeted mitigation of black carbon emissions — alongside reductions in CO2 and methane — would help ‘slam the emergency brake’ on global warming, substantially improving the likelihood of limiting global temperature rise,” they said.

Key Takeaways:

  • Arctic shipping emissions doubled between 2015 and 2021, fueled by ships burning dirty “residual” oils.
  • New sea routes, new risks: The rapid retreat of Arctic sea ice is opening the Northwest Passage and Transpolar Sea Route and extending Russia’s Northern Sea Route, increasing the danger of oil spills, ship accidents, and harmful emissions
  • Globally, black carbon makes up about 20% of shipping’s total climate impact.
  • Black carbon traps heat and darkens ice, amplifying regional warming by reducing the Arctic’s reflective “albedo” effect, the reflection of solar energy from snow and ice
  • Global ripple effects: Arctic melt disrupts ocean currents, alters monsoons, and fuels extreme weather far beyond the poles.
  • Health toll: Fine particles from ship exhaust worsen heart and lung disease and threaten food security for Arctic Indigenous communities.
  • Immediate action is possible: Switching to cleaner marine “polar fuels” like distillates could cut Arctic ship emissions by up to 80%.

The comprehensive report prepared by an alliance of scientists and environmental groups also argues that while the dangers posed by unregulated black carbon are complex and significant, the fix is a simple one: replacing voluntary measures with binding rules that require vessels to immediately switch to cleaner fuels would slow Arctic warming, protect indigenous communities, and deliver almost instantaneous climate and health benefits.