US to establish green shipping corridors with Fiji and Panama

The US has collaborated with the Republic of Fiji and the Republic of Panama to explore the potential of developing green shipping corridors in the two regions.

PHOTO: Aerial view of Port of Los Angeles. Getty Images

The trio will conduct feasibility studies for the projects, according to former US diplomat John Kerry, who currently serves as the first US special presidential envoy for climate.

“We simply must accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. I cannot stress this enough.  All of us – all of us champions of ocean health – must do everything we can to dramatically reduce emissions and to keep the goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C within reach,” Kerry said at the opening of the Eighth Our Ocean Conference on Thursday.

The US, Fiji, and Pacific Blue Shipping are involved in a partnership. Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership is a coalition of six nations: Fiji, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

Simultaneously, the US is working in collaboration with Panama.

These countries will jointly explore ways to improve access to clean marine fuels and technologies through these green shipping corridor projects.

These partnerships are a part of the "Green Shipping Challenge" announced at the COP27 climate summit last year to accelerate shipping decarbonisation. The US also announced plans to explore green corridors between major ports in the US and South Korea.

“Looking ahead, I anticipate more successful conferences to come, as Greece and then the Republic of Korea take the baton,” Kerry added.

By Konica Bhatt

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