Delegates at the Marine Fuel Sustainability forum in Long Beach today received a clear message on shipping and emissions.

"We are at a major crossroads," said Mario Cardero, Harbor Commission President for the Port of Long Beach, in his welcome address. "We must address air quality issues."

This was also emphasised in the keynote speech from Wayne Nastri, Administrator for the Pacific Southwest Region, US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) when he addressed the key theme of the forum: is shipping doing enough.

"No," Nastri said, in answering the question, "the maritime industry is not doing enough."

He went on to pose, in his view, more pertinent questions.

"What more can we do, and how can we do it?" he asked.

Nastri outlined the EPA's approach, which is to seek primarily federal and international rules and regulations that would ensure consistency and "a level playing field".

As well as supporting US ratification of MARPOL Annex VI, and contributing a proposal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for emissions reductions from shipping, Nastri said that the EPA was also analyzing possible Sulphur Emissions Control Areas (SECAs) for North America.

Mark Major, from the Environment Directorate-General, European Commission, in the presentations in the morning session, sounded a note of caution, however, with the IMO approach.

"Progress at the IMO has been uncertain and disappointing," he said.

Major said that the European Union (EU) would take action if the IMO does not, even though it is primarily pushing for a global solution.

"No where near enough is being done," he said.

In outlining the EU's intention to push for transport emissions to be included in a post-Kyoto emissions control regime, Major had a clear message for the maritime industry that it should prepare its views and have an input into the process.

Overall, though, he was confident that the shipping industry could reduce its emissions.

"The cost of acting now is lower than the cost of climate change in the future."