Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu have launched a five-year regional drive to decarbonize the maritime sector, unveiling the Decarbonizing the Maritime Sector through Low-Carbon Maritime Transport Roadmap and MRV Systems. The initiative pools more than $21 million to push policy development, pilot port infrastructure investments, and the establishment of robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems for ship emissions, aiming to modernize aging fleets and improve port operations.
At the launch, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Fiji’s Minister for Infrastructure, underscored the program as a pivotal move toward aligning Pacific maritime activities with national, regional, and global climate commitments. He stressed that maritime transport is a lifeline for Pacific economies, not a luxury, noting that the effort will pilot new port infrastructure to cut fuel use and emissions from both ships and port operations. “We will also pilot innovative infrastructure investments in selected ports to reduce fuel use and emissions from both vessels and port operations. For Fiji, this means tangible support for improving inter-island shipping, making ports more efficient, and strengthening the government’s shipping franchise scheme,” he said. The initiative also aligns with Fiji’s Paris Agreement commitments and its broader goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
The program is being implemented in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute and is supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, reflecting a broader regional push toward cleaner shipping and climate resilience. The move comes amid intensifying international focus on decarbonizing shipping, with Pacific leaders advocating for stronger global action at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and for mechanisms to fund adaptation and green transition in vulnerable nations.
Context and broader momentum
– Pacific nations, including Fiji, Vanuatu, and others, have been advocating at the IMO for decisive measures to curb shipping emissions, including a universal greenhouse gas pricing mechanism starting at roughly USD 150 per tonne, to fund climate resilience and transition efforts.
– The region has highlighted the urgent need for a market-based mechanism to address shipping emissions, arguing that climate finance should flow to those most vulnerable to climate change.
– In related regional developments, the IMO opened its first Regional Presence Office for the Pacific in Suva, Fiji, to support maritime governance, safety, decarbonization efforts, and enhanced technical cooperation. The office aims to help Pacific nations implement IMO instruments and align regional plans with global climate and shipping goals.
– Parallel initiatives in the Pacific include the Voyage to Zero program, which promotes biofuels and emissions savings for freight customers, and ongoing efforts by Swire Shipping to convert vessels to greener fuels, underscoring a regional momentum toward cleaner maritime operations.
– The Pacific coalition, including 6PAC+, continues to push for rapid, science-based outcomes at global meetings such as MEPC 83, emphasizing that a 1.5°C target is a survival threshold and calling for concrete, enforceable measures rather than vague pledges.
Outlook and value
– The Decarbonization roadmap, with MRV systems, positions the Pacific to better track emissions, attract climate finance, and demonstrate scalable models for port and fleet improvements.
– The collaboration with GGGI and Korea’s oceans and fisheries ministry signals opportunities for technical assistance, capacity building, and pilots that can be replicated across Pacific ports.
– By tying local efforts to regional and global climate frameworks, the initiative could accelerate fleet modernization, improve inter-island connectivity, and enhance resilience to climate risks while supporting national net-zero ambitions.
Summary
Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu formalized a major five-year move to decarbonize regional maritime transport, backed by over $21 million for policy work, pilot port projects, and MRV systems. The effort aligns with Fiji’s Paris Agreement targets and net-zero by 2050, and fits into a broader Pacific push for global action on shipping emissions, including advocacy for a universal GHG price mechanism and expanded IMO support.
Positive note
This regional push reflects strong leadership from Pacific Island nations, leveraging international partnerships to turn climate commitments into tangible, on-the-ground improvements for shipping, ports, and communities. The coordinated approach enhances not only environmental outcomes but broader economic resilience and regional cooperation.
Leave a comment