On 27 June 2022, Honorable Kitlang Kabua, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the RMI, delivered remarks via a pre-recorded video statement during a side event at the United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC). The side event was hosted by the countries of Denmark, Germany, Kenya, Morocco, Panama, Singapore and USA and and the United Nations Foundation, UN Global Compact, Aspen Institute, High Level Climate Champions, the Global Maritime Forum, and Ocean Conservancy.
The side event was titled, “Ocean-Based Climate Solutions in Action from Offshore Renewable Energy to a Clean, Resilient Maritime Sector,” and aimed to discuss how ocean-based climate solutions can help the world accomplish the goals of the Paris agreement and multiple SDGS. The event also touched on the role of the ocean in our global clean energy transition and how both policy commitments and initiatives such as “green corridors” can promote climate smart sustainable ocean-based economies and address challenges faced by coastal communities.
During her remarks, Minister Kabua stated, “The urgent need for an equitable transition to zero emission shipping well before 2050.” Minister Kabua also reiterated RMI’s commitment in this initiative and that the RMI has approved the revised Micronesian Centre for Sustainable Transport (MCST) revised framework, now currently known as the Rebellib 2050 strategy. This strategy is RMI’s national transport decarbonization framework which is mandated as the national strategy for achieving the nationally determined contributions through transport emissions reduction commitments and the national action plan (NAP).
Honorable Minister Kabua further affirmed RMI’s obligation as a co-chair of the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership and how RMI has expressed continuation in ensuring zero carbon maritime shipping by 2050. RMI aims to achieve this within its own domestic fleets while also advocating and urging absolute zero emission from the International shipping sector, along with RMI’s International and Pacific counterparts.