Experts warn biofuels not a long-term solution for shipping

MAJURO: Experts advising Pacific states at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) warn that biofuels are not a long-term solution for decarbonising shipping, highlighting threats to food security, supply constraints, and rising costs for vulnerable economies.

Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport technical advisers stress that the shipping industry risks locking itself into unsustainable pathways if biofuels are rewarded by the Net-Zero Framework.

“First-generation biofuels come from food and feed crops. That competes with food supply and land, which is risky for developing countries,” said Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport (MCST) legal adviser John Kautoke. “Even advanced biomass is supply-constrained, and aviation is already targeting it for sustainable aviation fuels.

“For our region, importing those fuels would just add cost layers. We need solutions suited to Pacific realities — wind-propulsion, high-efficiency designs, and scalable e-fuels from renewable electricity — rather than locking in costly imports.”

The Pacific submission, which is co-sponsored by Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, to the IMO calls for a clear, stringent definition of “zero and near-zero fuels” (ZNZs) that prioritises technologies capable of scaling to net zero by 2050, such as wind propulsion and e-fuels from renewable electricity, while explicitly excluding biomass feedstocks.

IMO members are meeting next week in London to vote on the adoption of the Net-Zero Framework.

Experts note that while biofuels can play a limited role in the transition, they are unlikely to meet the sector’s long-term needs. The aviation sector is already competing for the same feedstocks, creating a high risk that scarce resources will be diverted away from shipping.

Climate science underscores the urgency of focusing on scalable, long-run solutions. The latest assessments show global warming has already averaged 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels in 2024, with highly disruptive tipping points that are likely to be triggered between 1.5–2°C. “Investing in fuels that cannot scale wastes precious time we do not have,” Kautoke warns.

Instead, Pacific countries are pushing the IMO to design the Net-Zero Fund’s reward system to incentivise true zero-emission options – using mechanisms like auctions or contracts-for-difference to provide certainty for investors while ensuring accessibility for low-income countries.

“Member state priorities and preferences differ significantly when it comes to defining ZNZs. Our message is clear: the NZF needs to steer the environmental integrity of the long-term energy transition while ensuring food security. That means not rewarding the use of biofuels,” says Kautoke.

Source: Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport (MCST)