Ministers meeting recently in Tonga formally endorsed the work of a "High Ambition Coalition for shipping" ahead of IMO negotiations in London next month, reported Singapore's Splash 24/7.
The coalition groups together the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga, Germany, France and Denmark.
In a new paper submitted to the IMO, the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands said the overall target is for the shipping industry's emissions reductions to be consistent with contributing a 'fair share' towards the global burden of adhering to the target of preventing global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Marshall Islands' Minister of Transportation and Communication, Mike Halferty, commented: "The science is clear - without immediate and rapid decarbonisation of this major and growing source of GHG, 1.5 degree stabilisation will not be achieved. RMI is host to the world's second largest shipping registry. Many of our island neighbours here today also host registries of global significance.
"This means not only our islands have a unique responsibility to influence the ambition of the IMO, many of our government's revenues are closely tied to a well-managed decarbonisation of the international shipping industry. We are working with our registry, to advance the Pacific position and we invite our neighbours who find themselves in the same situation to do the same."
The coalition groups together the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga, Germany, France and Denmark.
In a new paper submitted to the IMO, the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands said the overall target is for the shipping industry's emissions reductions to be consistent with contributing a 'fair share' towards the global burden of adhering to the target of preventing global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Marshall Islands' Minister of Transportation and Communication, Mike Halferty, commented: "The science is clear - without immediate and rapid decarbonisation of this major and growing source of GHG, 1.5 degree stabilisation will not be achieved. RMI is host to the world's second largest shipping registry. Many of our island neighbours here today also host registries of global significance.
"This means not only our islands have a unique responsibility to influence the ambition of the IMO, many of our government's revenues are closely tied to a well-managed decarbonisation of the international shipping industry. We are working with our registry, to advance the Pacific position and we invite our neighbours who find themselves in the same situation to do the same."