Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport (MCST) Blog

On Sunday, The Guardian article from Casten Ned Nemra, Marshall Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs , marks a trend of increasing attention from global media on the central role shipping emissions play in decarbonizing our global economy.   RMI was joined by Kiribati and the Solomon Islands in calling for full decarbonisation by 2050 in their recent IMO submission, recognizing the IPCC AR6 report indicating sea level rise will continue for decades ahead, even if the 1.5 degrees  trajectory is met by 2030.  Recognition of the urgent action required has been widespread, but the issue of loss and damages to Pacific Island Countries – some of the most vulnerable and least culpable for our current global trajectory – is not being acknowledged with the same consensus. The earlier joint submission by RMI with Solomon Islands for a GHG levy starting at US$100 has been met with resistance from various national representatives and shipping industry stakeholders in the IMO.  U...

The Maritime Center for Sustainable Transport (MCST) organizes a running series of e-Bwebwenato (in Marshallese)/e-Talanoa sessions every month with the overarching theme of “Framing High Ambition.” The event which took place on September 1 st was centered around ambition and equity. This followed the submission, “ Resolution on zero emissions no later than 2050” made to the upcoming 77 th Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC77) by Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Marshall Islands. The recent IPCC report being quoted in interventions at regional or international forums should not come as a surprise. It is a red code for humanity and yet at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) we are still arguing about whether we should be highly ambitious or rather be just ambitious. We worry about equal opportunities, rights – equality in general. Where does equity and equitable transition for shipping decarbonisation fit in? Equality means giving everyone the same thing, whereas...