International regulations to cut down on toxic emissions by the shipping industry could have the effect of making climate change worse , according to some scientists . The UN 's International Maritime Organisation is introducing regulations requiring shipping vessels to reduce the amount of sulphur pollution by changing to lower - sulphur fuels or installing exhaust - cleaning systems . However , some research suggests that sulphur emissions have had a cooling effect on the atmosphere , by removing particles in the atmosphere that reflect sunlight back into space , and helping form clouds , which do the same . Reducing sulphur emissions could therefore lead to a net warming effect .
International regulations to cut down on toxic emissions by the shipping industry could have the effect of making climate change worse, according to some scientists. The UN's International Maritime Organisation is introducing rules requiring shipping vessels to reduce the amount of sulphur pollution by changing to lower-sulphur fuels or installing exhaust-cleaning systems. However, some research suggests that sulphur emissions have had a cooling effect on the atmosphere, by forming particles in the atmosphere that reflect sunlight back into space, and helping form clouds, which do the same. Reducing sulphur emissions could therefore lead to a net warming effect.