More Pacific pressure to decarbonise shipping

Pacific nations advocating for the International Maritime Organisation to decarbonise the shipping sector say they will continue to push the global regulator to clean up the industry.

The IMO concluded its 78th Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting in London last Friday, with discussions focusing on how international shipping - responsible for around 3 percent of global carbon pollution - can reduce emissions and do more to address the climate crisis.

According to the Micronesian Centre for Sustainable Transport, there is growing consensus at the IMO for a basket of measures, including support for the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands' proposal for a greenhouse gas levy introduced last year, as well as an increased ambition of 100 percent reduction in GHG targets by no later than 2050.

In a statement, the Micronesia Centre said all delegations referenced the Pacific's call for an equitable transition by the industry that leaves no state behind.

It said with the IMO confirming the dates for several key negotiations over the next 12 months, the Pacific is planning to have full high ambition representation at all these face-to-face meetings.