King Charles has lent his support to an Australian initiative to cut the use of oil in global shipping, joining Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and mining billionaire Andrew Forrest on the deck of a green-energy vessel at the Commonwealth summit in Antigua, where the event also backed a new nature fund of at least $280 million.
The event on Monday afternoon in St John's, Antigua (Tuesday AEDT), aboard the Fortescue Green Pioneer brought together more than a dozen Commonwealth leaders, among them representatives of Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Uganda and Mozambique. Forrest hosted the gathering to launch the new fund and to highlight his belief that green energy can replace or augment fossil fuels. The King spoke with Albanese during the event but did not make a speech to the assembled leaders.
The Green Pioneer, a 75-metre vessel, uses ammonia produced from renewable energy as well as traditional diesel shipping fuel, part of a wider push at the International Maritime Organisation to try to curb emissions. It arrived in the port of St John's ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the summit of 56 member states, where leaders from Pacific and Caribbean countries are among the loudest voices for action on climate change.
The same event backed the Commonwealth Nature Initiative, which aims to improve protection for habitats and oceans by 2030. The fund begins with $US200 million ($288 million) and aims to raise $US1 billion by 2030. It will not operate as a pooled fund and will instead coordinate financial pledges from donors, governments and the private sector. Initial supporters include the Minderoo Foundation, led by Forrest and his former wife Nicola, the Rob Walton Foundation, the Rainforest Trust, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Waitt Foundation and National Geographic Pristine Seas. Albanese made no announcement of an Australian donation.
The shipping push faces resistance from Washington. US President Donald Trump has railed against attempts to set climate targets in the shipping industry, warning of a "carbon tax" and vowing to stop the moves. "The United States will NOT stand for this Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping," Trump said last year. Members of the International Maritime Organisation voted last October to postpone a decision on the proposed Net Zero Framework for the industry, setting up a new vote later this year. The moves set the scene for further attempts by the Trump administration to lobby countries to reject the plan, making support among the Commonwealth's 56 member states an important factor in any outcome.
Albanese praised Charles for his environmental leadership. "Renewable energy will lower costs, not increase them, and will boost economic growth and productivity," the prime minister said. "And I congratulate all involved on this initiative, but particularly the leadership of His Majesty King Charles."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Support from Commonwealth states could weigh on a new International Maritime Organisation vote later this year on the proposed Net Zero Framework, which the Trump administration is lobbying against.
- The Commonwealth Nature Initiative gives the summit a concrete funding vehicle, starting at $US200 million ($288 million) with a target of $US1 billion by 2030 for habitat and ocean protection.
- The King's appearance alongside Albanese and Forrest keeps climate action on the summit agenda despite the political argument about cost.
Background
Charles, who has long spoken publicly about environmental protection, was attending the meeting of Commonwealth heads of government, a regular gathering of the 56 member states, most of which were formerly part of the British Empire. The International Maritime Organisation is the United Nations agency that regulates international shipping, a sector that runs overwhelmingly on fossil fuels and is central to global trade. Efforts to set emissions targets for the industry have become a point of friction between climate-ambitious governments and the United States.
Key Perspectives
King Charles: lent his support to the Australian initiative to cut oil use in shipping, joining leaders aboard the Fortescue Green Pioneer, though he did not make a speech at the event.
Anthony Albanese: praised Charles for his environmental leadership and said "renewable energy will lower costs, not increase them, and will boost economic growth and productivity".
Andrew Forrest: hosted Commonwealth leaders to launch the nature fund and to highlight his belief that green energy can replace or augment fossil fuels.
Donald Trump: has railed against attempts to set climate targets in shipping, warning of a "carbon tax" and saying "The United States will NOT stand for this Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping".
What to Watch
- The new International Maritime Organisation vote later this year on the proposed Net Zero Framework.
- Whether Australia or other governments add pledges to the Commonwealth Nature Initiative as it seeks $US1 billion by 2030.
- Whether the Trump administration lobbies Commonwealth states to reject the shipping plan before that vote.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedKing Charles backed an Australian initiative to cut oil use in global shipping at the Commonwealth summit.The Age - Latest News: “King Charles has lent his support to an Australian initiative to cut the use of oil in global shipping”
- SupportedThe event backed a new nature initiative with at least $280 million.The Age - Latest News: “The event also backed a new environmental fund with at least $280 million for a new Commonwealth Nature Initiative”
- SupportedDonald Trump opposed attempts to set climate targets in the shipping industry.The Age - Latest News: “But US President Donald Trump has railed against the attempts to set climate targets in the shipping industry”
- SupportedAlbanese said: “Renewable energy will lower costs, not increase them, and will boost economic growth and productivity.”The Age - Latest News: ““Renewable energy will lower costs, not increase them, and will boost economic growth and productivity,” the prime minister said.”
- SupportedAlbanese said: “And I congratulate all involved on this initiative, but particularly the leadership of His Majesty King Charles.”The Age - Latest News: ““And I congratulate all involved on this initiative, but particularly the leadership of His Majesty King Charles.””
- SupportedTrump said last year: “The United States will NOT stand for this Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping.”The Age - Latest News: ““The United States will NOT stand for this Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping,” Trump said last year.”
- SupportedThe event took place on Monday afternoon, which the story identifies as Tuesday AEDT.The Age - Latest News: “The event on Monday afternoon (Tuesday, AEDT)”
- SupportedMore than a dozen Commonwealth leaders attended, including representatives of Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Uganda and Mozambique.The Age - Latest News: “The event on Monday afternoon (Tuesday, AEDT) brought together more than a dozen leaders from countries ranging from Tonga to Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Uganda and Mozambique.”
- SupportedThe King spoke with Albanese during the event but did not address the assembled leaders in a speech.The Age - Latest News: “The King spoke with Albanese during the event but did not make a speech to the assembled leaders.”
- SupportedThe Green Pioneer is 75 metres long and uses renewable-energy-produced ammonia as well as traditional diesel fuel.The Age - Latest News: “The Green Pioneer, a 75-metre vessel, arrived in the port of St John’s in Antigua”
- SupportedThe initiative begins with US$200 million (A$288 million) and aims to raise US$1 billion by 2030.The Age - Latest News: “The CNI begins with $US200 million ($288 million) and aims to raise $US1 billion by 2030.”
- SupportedThe International Maritime Organisation postponed a decision on the proposed Net Zero Framework last October, with a new vote set for later this year.The Age - Latest News: “Members of the International Maritime Organisation voted last October to postpone a decision on the proposed Net Zero Framework for the industry, setting up a new vote later this year.”