The impact of maritime transport on air pollution and public health in Europe

Abstract As an integral part of global trade, maritime transport contributes significantly to the intensification of CO2 emissions, which is source of climate change and global environmental issues. This study analyzes the impacts of maritime cargo traffic, along with port, socioeconomic and climatic conditions, on CO2 emissions and the mortality rates in 26 European countries. Based on maritime traffic intensity, these countries were classified into two subgroups: high-traffic and low-traffic. Static models (fixed effects, FE; random effects, RE) and dynamic models using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) were applied to panel data for the period 2013—2023. The results revealed that maritime energy consumption, connectivity, temperature, cargo throughput, vessel traffic, ship operating hours, population size and GDP have a statistically positive effect on CO2 emissions and the mortality rates in both country groups. In contrast, seaport investment and logistics performance indices, they demonstrate a negative impact on the carbon footprint of high-traffic countries.