Newsletter 5 | September 6, 2025 Edition Out Now

Latest research

Pacific Data Gaps Skew Shipping Impact Analysis
Researchers James Stewart, Peter Nuttall, Maria Sahib, and Serguey Maximov Gajardo from University College London and the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport warn that poor-quality Pacific trade data is crippling efforts to gauge how shipping’s decarbonization will affect the world’s most climate-vulnerable islands.

Their study finds current systems can’t properly assess impacts on states like Kiribati and Vanuatu ahead of new IMO rules in 2027. Read the full paper here.

6PAC+ Demands Fair Shipping Transition
Pacific nations are pushing the IMO to back a just and ambitious Net Zero Framework. With submissions due this week, MCST’s Maria Sahib says small islands must not be left behind as global shipping cuts emissions.

October’s London talks will decide if the plan truly aligns with 1.5°C and who benefits from the new climate fund. Read more here.

Perspective

Shipping Climate Framework at Risk
Pacific island states confront a critical juncture as October’s IMO session approaches, with shipping decarbonization efforts unravelling after the U.S. rejected the Net-Zero Framework in August and began pressuring other states to oppose it. Meanwhile, the EU may delay fuel taxes for nearly a decade.

October’s IMO session now represents a make-or-break moment for climate-vulnerable Pacific nations. The 6PAC+ alliance and Small Island Developing States must mobilise to secure a fair decarbonization pathway.

News spotlight

IMO Chief Backs Pacific’s Wind-Powered Shipping Vision

International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez sailed aboard a wind-hybrid cargo vessel during his Pacific visit to the Marshall Islands in August, signalling support for regional maritime decarbonization efforts.

Dominguez met with Special Envoy for Maritime Decarbonization Albon Ishoda and the Marshall Islands maritime team, followed by discussions with President Hilda Heine on sustainable shipping’s impact on Pacific nations.

The visit’s highlight was his sail on the SV Juren Ae, a wind-hybrid cargo vessel developed under the GIZ-implemented Low Carbon Sea Transport project. The demonstration provided the IMO’s top official direct experience with alternative propulsion technologies pioneered in the region.

The engagement highlights Pacific island states’ leadership role in pushing maritime decarbonization within international forums as they face acute climate vulnerabilities.

India to Boost Fiji’s Biofuels Collaboration

Fiji and India have reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting biofuels as a sustainable energy solution under the framework of the Global Biofuels Alliance.

As founding and active members of the Alliance, the two nations highlighted the critical role of biofuels in enhancing energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting inclusive rural development. Read more here

Image by fbcnews.com

Inspiration

“Takanga ’enau fohe” — “They paddle their canoe in unison.”

This Tongan proverb reminds us that unity and teamwork drive progress. When we move together with purpose, we go further and faster.

Image: Photo by Luke Richardson on Unsplash