The gritty determination of the Pacific countries continues to be demonstrated in the wake of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) “stumbling” in their efforts to lead the industry’s alignment with the Paris Agreement targets at their recent Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting.
It was the Solomon Islands that led the determined Pacific voice for action at the IMO’s MEPC alongside the Marshall Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu through the submission of a proposal that called for the IMO to agree on a plan to work out what shipping’s ‘fair share’ of GHG emissions should be.
In introducing the Pacific’s submission, Ambassador Moses Mose of Solomon Islands stated:
“…The same countries that celebrated in Paris, must now follow through on that commitment and demonstrate their conviction through action at IMO…On the topic of GHG, the shipping sector is at the start of its own journey. But unlike the UNFCCC with its clear and scientifically derived destination – well below 2 degrees, aiming for 1.5 – we are concerned that with shipping, we currently risk not knowing where we are going…. Today, in this room, we have the opportunity to demonstrate that the IMO is the competent organisation to control shipping’s GHG, and that our signatures in New York this week are not just ceremonial, but equate to meaningful action. Today, we can demonstrate that we have understood the message and that we are willing to act upon our responsibility…”
Strong opposition to the proposal came from BRICs (the grouping composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), Saudi Arabia and several South American countries concerned about the negative impacts of any commitment to mitigate shipping’s GHG emissions on their developing economies and the challenges to resolving anything.
Surprisingly, one of smallest and most vulnerable Pacific countries to climate change – the Cook Islands gave the strongest opposition to control of shipping emissions. In fact they did a complete “U-turn” on their position on climate change in Paris. Their protest was in direct opposition to many other Pacific Island countries at the IMO.
“It was as if their representatives in London were disconnected from the climate negotiations and the Paris Agreement” said PIDF’s Secretary General François Martel.
France joined Fiji and RMI in speaking strongly for the IMO to take a progressive approach and told the IMO that “We must put together a plan and timeframe for GHG reduction. Or be judged as impotent”. The incoming Secretary General of the IMO has called climate change the central issue for the IMO to address. He pushed hard for this not to be ’thrown out’ at this stage, suggesting it is “unwise to kill the thinking/idea…”
Throughout the day, IMO’s commitment and contribution in relation to the Paris Agreement was widely recognised by the majority of the delegations. Many also emphasised that IMO was the place to undertake a debate on shipping’s GHG emissions. But they were seemingly oblivious to the contradiction this posed with the position taken by several states to indefinitely delay further debate of GHG.
In the end, the IMO “stumbled but didn’t quite fall” when it commanded that this particular debate should be postponed for re-ignition at the next MEPC gathering, scheduled for October this year. They dodged the hypothetical GHG bullet… for now.
Whilst the debates (or lack of) were taking place at MEPC 69, Pacific leaders were queuing amongst 175 Countries to sign the Paris Agreement in New York on Earth Day.
A stark contrast transpired between the global approach to GHG action and the shipping industry’s approach to GHG action. Whilst countries were pledging to work tirelessly and collectively to see the Paris Agreement implemented, countries were less progressive when the topic of shipping’s GHGs were debated in London at the IMO. Much to the despair of many Pacific nations who continuously highlighted that IMO progress is happening at an alarmingly slow rate, too slow to save many Pacific Nations.
For now, the Pacific voice still booms strongly across the industry with a message that it is essential that shipping determine its fair share of the climate change burden and acts now.
