Op-ed: Zero Emissions Day in the Arctic: A 24-Hour Stress Test for the Planet
Black carbon emissions from shipping accelerate Arctic ice loss by darkening snow and ice surfaces, which increases heat absorption. (Archive photo: Cyprien Hauser CC BY-ND 2.0)
Op-ed: The 21st of September is Zero Emissions Day. The High North could make it a one-day trial, transforming it into a global call to act now rather than later, Hassan Alzain writes in this op-ed.
This is an op-ed written by an external contributor. All views expressed are the author's own.
A Region Warming at Breakneck Speed
The Arctic is warming at nearly four times the global average, as confirmed by peer-reviewed studies covering the satellite era since 1979. In September 2024, sea ice extent fell to 4.28 million square kilometres, the seventh lowest on record. In March 2025, the winter maximum reached only 14.33 million square kilometres, the lowest ever observed, highlighting the region’s ongoing decline.
This continued loss of ice is reshaping trade patterns, with the number of unique vessels operating in the Arctic Polar Code area rising from about 1,298 in 2013 to 1,781 in 2024. During the same period, the total distance sailed more than doubled from 6.1 million to roughly 12.7 million nautical miles.
Permafrost remains another major concern. Scientific assessments estimate that Arctic soils contain around 1,400–1,600 gigatonnes of organic carbon. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reports that thawing permafrost could release roughly 150 to 250 gigatonnes of CO₂-equivalent by 2100 in upper-end warming cases.
Longer-term modeling studies suggest that emissions could continue beyond 2100, with abrupt thaw processes adding an extra 60–100 gigatonnes of carbon (equivalent to about 220–370 gigatonnes of CO₂) by 2300, increasing total releases by as much as 125–190 percent compared to gradual thaw alone. These figures make clear that what happens in the Arctic is central to the global climate balance and that action in the region can have worldwide benefits.
Unique vessels operating in the Arctic Polar Code area increased from about 1,298 in 2013 to 1,781 in 2024.
Cutting Black Carbon at the Source
Black carbon emissions from shipping accelerate Arctic ice loss by darkening snow and ice surfaces, which increases heat absorption. Although the IMO’s ban on heavy fuel oil in the Arctic took effect on 1 July 2024, exemptions mean that many ships may continue using it until 2029.
Studies reviewed by the International Council on Clean Transportation show that switching from heavy fuel oil to distillate fuels can reduce black carbon emissions by 50 to 80 percent, depending on the engine and operational profile.
Further reductions are possible with emission-control technologies. Diesel particulate filters, already demonstrated in some marine applications, can cut black carbon and particulate matter emissions by up to around 90 percent, depending on fuel quality and filter design.
These are not abstract projections but tested interventions. A one-day trial during Zero Emissions Day, where participating vessels switch fuels and publish monitoring data under IMO’s 2024 black carbon guidelines, could demonstrate verifiable reductions that build the case for stricter global action.
Sealing Methane Leaks Across Arctic Energy Systems
Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, contributing about half a degree Celsius to today’s warming. The International Energy Agency’s Global Methane Tracker 2025 reports that around 70 percent of energy-related methane emissions could be reduced with existing technologies, with about 35 million tonnes already avoidable at no net cost in 2024.
In the IEA’s 1.5°C pathway, fossil-fuel methane falls by roughly 75 percent by 2030.
Although these figures are global, they highlight the opportunity for the Arctic to showcase practical methane-cutting innovations and clean technologies with benefits that extend worldwide and support collective climate pledges and measurable goals.
What happens in the Arctic is central to the global climate balance.
Recent advances in methane monitoring make rapid reductions achievable. The MethaneAIR airborne spectrometer has demonstrated reliable detection of methane emissions from large point sources, and emerging satellite missions such as Tanager-1 are expanding this capability to track smaller and more diffuse plumes at regional scales.
UNEP’s An Eye on Methane 2024 underscores that rapid detection and repair remain essential for achieving methane mitigation goals. A coordinated 24-hour operation to seal leaks and publicly disclose avoided emissions would not only yield immediate climate benefits but also demonstrate transparent, accountable methane management in sensitive regions like the Arctic.
Empowering Arctic Communities to Go Diesel-Free
Across rural Alaska, more than 200 communities continue to rely on isolated microgrids powered mainly by diesel. These systems are expensive to operate, with electricity prices often three to five times higher than in urban centres .
The logistics of delivering fuel add cost and vulnerability, particularly as climate change makes transport routes less reliable.
Zero Emissions Day has often been symbolic, but in the Arctic, it can become a true laboratory for solutions.
Renewable energy integration offers a clear alternative. The Alaska Center for Energy and Power and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have documented projects where wind, solar, and battery storage significantly reduced diesel dependence in villages from Kodiak to Kotzebue.
While not every system has achieved extended diesel-free operation, the trend shows that communities can cut both costs and emissions when given technical and financial support. A Zero Emissions Day demonstration of scheduled diesel-off intervals across several villages could highlight this transition while delivering immediate reductions in local pollution.
From Symbol to Action
Zero Emissions Day has often been symbolic, but in the Arctic, it can become a true laboratory for solutions. By testing fuel switching in shipping, sealing methane leaks, and running diesel-free intervals in community microgrids, the region could show how real emissions cuts are possible within a single day.
These actions draw on proven technologies, from cleaner fuels to advanced detection systems and renewable storage, giving the Arctic a chance to demonstrate its impact.
The Arctic’s visibility and vulnerability make it ideal for such trials. Local efforts would deliver immediate benefits while generating lessons of global value. If ships reduce black carbon, leaks are sealed in real time, and communities lower diesel use, the results would prove that rapid climate action is both practical and replicable. Outcomes would encourage others to follow.
The task is to turn Zero Emissions Day from a pause for reflection into a moment of proof. By testing and scaling real interventions, the High North can lead by example and give this day lasting meaning.
A single 24-hour trial could become a model for practice and innovation, transforming Zero Emissions Day into a global call to act now rather than later when it becomes too late.
