The extraordinary session of the IMO's Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) session was convened on the 14th October to formally adopt the NZF as amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, which would introduce for large oceangoing ships a global fuel-intensity standard and a GHG emissions-pricing mechanism. However, member States were unable to reach consensus and therefore did not formally adopt the framework at this meeting. Instead they voted (57 in favour, 49 against/abstain) to adjourn the decision for one year and reconvene in October 2026.

This was a disappointing outcome for the IMO.

Three days later I interviewed John Taukave who was present on this committee. This podcast showcases that interview. I'll let the podcast do the talking - it was recorded in a lobby in a hotel next to the IMO headquarters in London (the IMO was a busy place that week!) and as such there is the occasional interruption as people passed through which I apologise for. Enjoy hearing from this passionate ambassador of climate change reduction.

Who is John

John is a Pacific Islander and a diplomat with deep insight into the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and in particular into the historic IMO decision to price emissions from global shipping. John offers a unique insider perspective rarely heard in mainstream maritime and climate discussions.
Most conversations about the IMO focus on technical regulation, shipping law, or emissions targets. John brings something different: the lived experience of how these global decisions play out in small island nations - places where maritime policy directly affects culture, livelihoods and survival.
Some angles he could bring to an episode include:

• Climate justice: what IMO climate policies mean for communities already living with rising seas and environmental change.
• Representation: why voices from small island states matter in global shipping and trade discussions — and what’s lost when they are excluded.
• Cultural heritage: how traditional seafaring knowledge and island identity intersect with global maritime regulation.

John’s strength is his ability to bridge technical policy with compelling human stories. He can articulate the cultural dimension of IMO debates in a way that connects with both expert and general audiences.

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