Ensuring maritime representation on sustainable transport and climate finance

Nautilus head of international relations Danny McGowan discusses how the maritime voice is represented internationally on just transition principles for workers' rights, diversity, and training throughout the supply chain's moves to greener transport

The transition from heavy fuel oils to new energy sources is something that we will be discussing and working on across the Union's campaigns and activities – calling for a 'Just Transition' to be made and leaving no one behind.

I recently represented Nautilus at a workshop hosted by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) to discuss climate finance in transport. With the ITF taking part in United Nations climate finance talks and preparing its participation for the COP29 climate summit later in the year, the organisation aims to put transport workers in a position to directly influence such topics.

The ITF proposes two specific areas to ensure that climate action moves on from the current approach that can appear piecemeal in its implementation.

1. Sustainable Transport Action Master Plans (STAMPs)

These are missing in many national jurisdictions and should be introduced in order for entire transport systems and the supply chain to become environmentally sustainable. STAMPs must include just transition principles around workers' rights, diversity and training, and be an integrated approach for all transport modes including passenger and freight.

2. Climate Finance Platforms (CFPs)

There is a huge gap in climate finance at present, with COP29 expecting to see a call for US$1trillion (£800bn) per year necessary to reach climate goals. Public finance will of course be necessary to reach such levels, but this finance should not be used to support private profit, particularly if workers' rights and just transition principles are not respected. Some elements of finance from the 'global north' will be necessary to support the 'global south' in international moves to protect the environment, but this cannot be in the form of further debt burdens for the global south.

It will be necessary for Nautilus International to continue to monitor and support the work of ITF in this area, ensuring that the voices of maritime professionals are represented throughout the supply chain's moves to greener transport.

• If you would like to find out more, please contact me via dmcgowan@nautilusint.org

• To find out more about the ITF, go to www.itfglobal.org and for the Nautilus Federation, see nautilusfederation.org