Fiji’s transition towards ‘green shipping’ for a secure and sustainable shipping industry
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 U.N. Climate Conference (COP27) 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, Dr Satyendra Prasad, said the world needed a safe, secure and sustainable maritime industry, which could drive and support a growing economy and help achieve a truly better world.
While Fiji had one of the most robust and well-developed shipping industries in the Pacific, he said there was 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,” he said.
“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 economywide 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 decarbonise the respective shipping sectors and achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
He outlined the milestone activities that would assist in the transition and realisation of the PBSP through:
A 10- year country-driven programme of investment (from 2020-2030) in lowcarbon 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 firstever 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.