The Pacific Island Development Forum organised a Talanoa session to brief Pacific diplomatic missions on the development
s that are underway to address the issue of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the international shipping sector. The meeting also seeks the views of Pacific Island governments and other stakeholders with regards to the shipping emissions paper that is proposed for submission to the 69th session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in April 2016.
Over 20 participants were present at the Talanoa with representatives from Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, European Union (EU), Fiji National University, and International Union for Conservation of Nature, PIDF, Secretariat of the Pacific Community and USP
The University of the South Pacific, through its Sustainable Sea Transport Research Programme, facilitated the meeting, filling the resource gaps in the area of international shipping emissions. Dr Peter Nuttall led the USP team in presenting on the background of the issue, the proposed MEPC 69 submission by European Union and the options available to Pacific Island governments.
Response from Pacific Island governments represented at the meeting was very positive with Solomon Islands confirming that they will take the position as at MEPC 68 and Fiji pledging its support. Other PICs advised the likelihood of their support pending official confirmation from their governments
Work will continue to formalise the support pledged by respective Pacific Island governments and to follow-up on pending decisions.
Pacific Island Development Forum will continue to work with USP, EU and other international partners to ensure that an EU/Pacific co-sponsored MEPC 69 paper is submitted to IMO by the deadline of 12 February 2016.