Quoting some surprising paragraphs:
Some researchers have proposed that the drop in SO2 as a result of the IMO’s clean air regulations could be behind a recent spike in global sea surface temperature.
Carbon Brief analysis shows that the likely side-effect of the 2020 regulations to cut air pollution from shipping is to increase global temperatures by around 0.05C by 2050. This is equivalent to approximately two additional years of emissions.
Not too much of a surprise. Sulfate aerosols are well known for causing cooling. The big issue with them is lung damage and acid rain
it’s not all doom-and-gloom
While this will contribute to warming and make it even more difficult to avoid exceeding 1.5°C in the coming decades, a number of other factors are likely contributing to the ocean heatwave.
These include a massive eruption of an underwater volcano in the south Pacific, an unusual absence of Saharan dust, and a growing El Niño.
but please, let’s not loosen regulations on sulfur
SO2 emissions from fossil fuels have long contributed to severe health impacts through the formation of particulate matter known as PM2.5.
Studies estimate that the high sulfur content of marine fuel – which is much higher than levels allowable on land – contributes to between 19,000 and 91,000 premature deaths each year in coastal regions.
