There is enormous potential for the Pacific region and Fiji to transition towards “green shipping” to build an efficient and environmentally friendly shipping industry.
This was highlighted when Fiji took centre stage at the UN Climate Conference (COP 27) event this week on “Translating Ambition into Ocean and Climate Action- Perspectives from the Ocean Panel” held at the United States Pavilion in Sharm- el-Sheikh in Egypt.
While speaking at this event, Fiji’s Permanent Representative to United Nations Ambassador Satyendra Prasad said the world needs a safe, secure and sustainable maritime industry which can drive and support a growing economy and help achieve a truly better world.
He said while Fiji has one of the most robust and well-developed shipping industries in the Pacific, there is still a need for technical and financial support to scale efforts to meet climate ambitions.
“We look towards leaders in the “greening” of the shipping industry such as Norway and the ability to make whole scale changes at the regional level through partnerships we develop much like that with the United States of America in ensuring security within our waters.
“Potential for the Pacific and Fiji to transition towards cleaner energy and zero emission shipping is incredible. The world has the resources and the science available to achieve economy-wide changes within the shipping industry, and it's time we brought this wave of momentum to the Pacific with opportunities to innovate and escalate change.”
Ambassador Prasad also spoke on the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP) which was jointly launched by the Governments of Fiji, and the Marshall Islands with support from the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu in an ambitious effort to decarbonize the respective shipping sectors and achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
He outlined the milestone activities that would assist in the transition and realization of the PBSP through:
A 10- year country-driven programme of investment (from 2020-2030) in low-carbon sea transport infrastructure for Pacific Island Countries. This includes the upgrading of ports and ships, investments in renewable energy and supporting shipping infrastructure; Retro-fitting and purchasing carbon-friendly passenger vessels and cargo ferries.
Complementary investments in a revolving Finance Facility for Business and Entrepreneurship and a Research, Innovation Hub, each supporting the transition to sustainable and resilient low-carbon sea transport for Fiji and ultimately, the Pacific region.
To facilitate the work mentioned above, the Fijian Government’s first-ever initiative in the Pacific called “Blue Bonds” will be diverted towards e-mobility and ‘greening” of Fiji’s ports and building a safe, secure and sustainable shipping industry in Fiji.
Ambassador Prasad said that we also need to integrate biodiversity, forest and ocean holistically, so that there is greater integrity in climate actions countries are taking.
“We look to COP28 to mainstream ocean onto the agenda, that will add more momentum to getting all oceanic countries to add a blue component to their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
Finally, Ambassador Prasad reminded the rich countries that when small fisheries-dependent countries like Kiribati offer large marine protected areas; they “know the level of sacrifice they are making”.
“Kiribati offering 500000 square km of marine protection is equivalent to asking the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to switch off 10 per cent of its oil and gas fields. Small state after small state across the Pacific are undertaking such steps, and so they ask the fossil fuel industry to undertake similar steps."