THE EMBASSY

OF THE

REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

41 Borron Road - P.O. Box 2038 GB
Suva, Republic of Fiji
Press Release
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Majuro,
Republic of Marshall Islands
The need for an ambitious sector target for emissions reduction from shipping
In May this year the Republic of the Marshall Islands led a delegation of Pacific Ministers
and Ambassadors to the International Maritime Organisation to request this UN agency
set a firm and ambitious sector target for shipping to reduce its emissions
commensurate with maintaining a no more than 1.5 degree global warming threshold.
RMI respectfully requested that this step be made in advance of COP21 so that the IMO
could send a clear message to Paris that the shipping sector was prepared to shoulder
its fair share of the climate change challenge.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands made this request in reflection of two facts.
First, RMI is the front line for climate change and we face the very real existential threat
if the world does not act now and act decisively. Climate change is not a future issue; it
must be addressed, and addressed decisively, now.
Secondly, RMI and its flag are host to the 3rd largest independent shipping registry. It
must be part of the climate change solution. But if RMI acts alone and directs only its
registry to take a firm stance on shipping emissions, it will simply achieve the demise of
our registry. It requires the industry as a whole to make a collective paradigm shift. This
will only happen if the IMO sets a firm target now for the industry to reduce its overall
emissions profile.
Unfortunately, and after only the briefest of debates, the IMO determined not to grant
the RMI request, citing the need to complete its work on agreeing a data collection,
monitoring and evaluation process for shipping and to consider the outcomes from
COP21 in Paris.

Phone: (679) 338-7899 Fax: (679) 338-7115 Email: ambassador@rmiembassyfiji.org - RMI: Website http//www.rmiebassyus.org/

It is against this background, that RMI expresses great concern on the call by the retiring
Secretary-General of the IMO, Mr Koji Sekimizu, for global leaders at COP21 not to
intervene and not insist that the IMO now set a clear and ambitious sector target for
shipping. His call is not just a danger to the planet, but as the research points out, also
to the shipping industrys future prosperity, and therefore the future stability of world
trade.
Of great alarm is the Secretary-Generals misuse, or at least misunderstanding, of the
evidence-base on shipping and its GHG pollution.
The Secretary-General cites the Third IMO GHG Study that records that during 20072012, shipping reduced its share of GHG pollution. The IMOs GHG regulations in
MARPOL came in to force in 2013. Therefore there is no evidence supporting a
connection between IMO policy and reductions in GHG emissions. The evidence noted
in the study was that the reduction in emissions was due to widespread slow-steaming,
a short-term response resulting from the Global Financial Crisis and one that is likely to
reverse as the market recovers.
It is shippings impact in the future that is of critical importance. The same studys
forecasts, which include all current IMO policy, predict emissions increases of 50-250%
for shipping by 2050 (increasing its share to 6-15% of GHG emissions). The evidence is
that the sector is on a diametrically opposed path to the rest of the global economy, and
will becoming a growing danger to the planets prosperity and survival.
At MEPC 68, the debate on our proposal for a target was short but supportive - 24
countries spoke out from across the spectrum of developed and developing economies.
That the words of the third-largest shipping registry, with strong multilateral support in
the IMO was not enough to move the debate on targets forwards and that the
Secretary-General himself is so publicly communicating a contradictory message raises
serious questions about the Organisations ability to take a balanced view on this topic.
GHG pollution is a difficult issue for the global economy. It requires a long-term vision,
attention to fairness and equity and an inclusive debate across all sectors and countries.
It is not reasonable to expect the IMO to have a view which is inclusive of all sectors
GHG challenges. But it is reasonable to expect this of the UNFCCC.
The proposed Paris Agreement must deliver the strongest possible directive to the IMO
to move quickly and decisively to set such a target and to prioritise implementing all
measures necessary to achieve this target. This call is supported by the Suva Declaration
on Climate Change, signed this month by many governments of the Pacific Small Island
Developing States and territories.

Phone: (679) 338-7899 Fax: (679) 338-7115 Email: ambassador@rmiembassyfiji.org - RMI: Website http//www.rmiebassyus.org/

With that clarity and direction in place we believe that IMO can and will then move
forwards to repeat the many previous successes of its implementation of regulations
that have saved lives at sea and reduced other sources of shipping pollution.
More than 50 years ago the RMI, along with our neighbours, were told that our
exposure to the most extensive and prolonged nuclear bombardment in world history
was a necessary price for ensuring world peace and order. It is a price my country, my
people and our neighbours continue to pay today and our children are now doomed to
pay for all ensuing generations.
Let us not make the same mistake we did with nuclear bombs in addressing the issue of
climate change, the greatest challenge of our generation.

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For further information please contact : Mr Albon Ishoda, Charge d Affairs a.i on 3387899 /7030141
OR Email : taishoda@gmail.com

Phone: (679) 338-7899 Fax: (679) 338-7115 Email: ambassador@rmiembassyfiji.org - RMI: Website http//www.rmiebassyus.org/