Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport (MCST)

So, i just have to share this. Folks often look at me blankly when I try and explain the barriers and unique problems we face trying to prepare for a decarbonised shipping future in the remote Pacific Islands. Yesterday I was looking for information on shipping cargo from the Capital of the Solomon Islands, Honiara, on the island of Guadalcanal to the remote capital of the Temotu Province, Lata - about 500nm of bluewater passage to the east. Mr Google kindly led me to this exquisite nugget of relevant information.

Dear Friends and Colleagues/Estimados Amigos y Colegas, Happy New Year! It’s January 2025, which means two things: my New Year’s resolution to "spend less time in spreadsheets" will last about a week, and it’s time to announce the release of the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics 2024 report. Once again, I had the privilege of preparing the Freight and Supply Chain chapter. Here are some highlights from this year’s findings: The U.S. freight system moved 20.1 billion tons of goods valued at $18.7 trillion in 2023. Trucking remained king, hauling 64.5% of the weight and 72.5% of the value. Short hauls? Trucking dominated trips under 100 miles, accounting for 75% of ton-miles. Long hauls? Rail took the lead on routes between 1,000–2,000 miles, with 37.8% of ton-miles. In 2023, U.S.–Mexico trade rose 2.4% to $798 billion, overtaking U.S.–Canada trade ($772.9 billion) as the top bilateral partner for the first time. Meanwhile, U.S.–China trade fell 16.8%, underscoring evolving trade patterns. The Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (a nod to Jan Hoffmann and his UNCTAD Trade colleagues!) ranked the Port of New York and New Jersey as the top U.S. port for connectivity in 2023, with a score of 517—up from 506 in 2022. Meanwhile, West Coast ports like Los Angeles and Long Beach saw declines to 276 and 233, respectively, reflecting shifting dynamics. East Coast ports handled 63.8 billion kilograms of Asian imports in 2023, surpassing the West Coast’s 55.0 billion kilograms for the second straight year. Over the past decade, East Coast ports achieved a CAGR of 5.5%, while West Coast ports saw a decline of −0.3%, emphasizing a long-term shift in containerized trade flows. While this year’s data showcases remarkable trends, next year’s story may reflect ripples from recent disruptions: potential East Coast dockworker strikes, vessel re-routings avoiding the Red Sea, and drought-related navigation constraints on the Panama Canal. The U.S. coastal gap could narrow—or shifting trade patterns may surprise us again. For a deep dive, I’m sharing a PDF of Chapter 3 here. The full report and a treasure trove of transportation statistics across all modes are available at https://www.bts.gov/tsar and https://data.bts.gov/. #FreightTransportation #GlobalTrade #SupplyChainInsights #ShippingTrends #LogisticsInnovation #MaritimeEconomics #USPorts #TradeDynamics #TransportStatistics #PortResilience #SustainabilityInShipping

Blue Pacific’s Engagement with Trump Presidency, writes Satyendra Prasad Read here: https://lnkd.in/gdGqMXX3 Dr Amit Sarwal Pallavi Jain Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj Paul Watters PhD Shailendra Bahadur Singh, PhD. The Hon. Lisa Singh Professor Gurmeet Singh Biman Prasad Om Dwivedi Dipen Rughani GAICD Jim Varghese, AM Irfan Malik (MAICD) Dr Asha Chand

"The IMO, led by the tenacious Pacific Islands, has a chance to show global leadership this year. Its carbon levy could act as a blueprint for decarbonising other heavy industries, and in doing so truly change the world for the better." Indeed, Lloyd's List reminds us that: "A levy is the simplest and lowest-cost way to decarbonise shipping. For the sake of the planet and our industry’s future, the IMO should adopt one without delay." https://lnkd.in/eagwWyeS

Current co-sponsors [list is not final] for a joint submission with proposed text for a new MARPOL Annex VI Chapter to ensure a legally-binding Levy on GHG Emissions from shipping include: Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Montenegro, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), Nigeria, Palau, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, the European Commission, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu, ICS. This marks a significant increase in support: - The 3 biggest registries (Liberia, Panama, Marshall Islands) now support a Levy, after tireless advocacy from the Marshall Islands government - Major African maritime states like Nigeria and Kenya now support a Levy, alongside Liberia (which already supported a Levy) - The United Kingdom, the Seychelles, and the Republic of Korea also formalised their support for an effective Levy, alongside Japan (which supported the EU proposal previously) - The Shipping Industry had already voiced its support at MEPC82, via the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents the world’s national shipowner associations and over 80% of the world merchant fleet We are grateful for the negotiators of all Levy proponents who worked closely since MEPC82 to both consolidate and expand support for the pricing mechanism that is effective and will ensure a just and equitable transition. We expect more countries to join the list of co-sponsors by Friday 10 January COB (UK time). Updates to follow.

Our 6PAC+ Alliance of high-ambition Pacific, Caribbean, and African Island nations has long championed a universal #GHGlevy as the centerpiece of mid-term measures at the International Maritime Organization (#IMO). This levy is not just about reducing emissions—it’s about innovation, fairness, ensuring a just and equitable transition and no nation or seafarer is left behind. Now, this vision is gaining momentum. Liberia and Panama, home to the world’s largest shipping registries, have joined over 43 other jurisdictions in supporting the levy. Together, these countries represent over 66% of the global fleet's capacity. This growing consensus marks a significant step toward transforming maritime emissions policies. As Ambassador Albon Ishoda emphasizes: "This levy is more than an environmental initiative—it’s a vital tool to level the playing field and secure a sustainable future for frontline nations." At MCST, we’re proud to see the principles of equity and ambition at the heart of these discussions. Let’s make 2025 the year of bold maritime climate action! #OurOceanOurObligationOurOpportunity #MaritimeDecarbonization #ClimateAction #SustainableShipping #IMO #6PAC+Alliance Atina Schutz John Taukave M.AJohn Fatuimoana KautokeBilitaki LovoPete NuttallAlison NewellDeepak BhartuChristiaan De BeukelaerAileen SefetiEldine Chilembo Glees MNI Pierre-Jean Bordahandy Gavin Allwright International Windship Association Andrew Irvin Jessica Taylor Dylan Kava Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change Ralph Regenvanu Simon Kofe Aseri Driu Morgan Wairiu Read more in the Financial Times in the link below: