ACTION on climate change is non-negotiable; the devastating impact of climate breakdown is already evident from bush fires in Australia to the deathly floods in Pakistan. We must all play our part to address this major challenge of our time.

As the backbone of the global economy, shipping is one of the most carbon-intensive industries. The British government has set a target for zero-emissions shipping to be achieved by 2050, an ambition Nautilus International wholeheartedly supports.

Nautilus believes in a just and human-centred transition, one that guarantees our people, the skilled and dedicated maritime professionals that form the beating heart of global supply chains, are full and active participants in change. 

As the maritime industry innovates to meet our climate change targets, seafarers must not be left behind. 

The obvious next question is; what does a just and human-centred transition look like? In a paper submitted by our international federation to Cop26, the fundamental principles underpinning a just transition for maritime professionals was set out, including the critical point that the transition must be democratic — workers and their representatives in trade unions must be fully involved in the debate and decision-making process affecting their futures. 

Government must work with unions to build a progressive and sustainable future. 

As technologies and fuel sources evolve to meet zero-carbon targets, it is critical that our maritime professionals are given the opportunity to retrain and reskill in these new technologies and fuel types, this means ensuring there are no barriers to accessing education and training.

Nautilus believes government must incentivise employers to ensure their workers are given appropriate time and financial support to develop their skills to build the industry of the future and ensure a fair deal for workers.

The government has developed the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition — a multimillion-pound research and development fund to help accelerate maritime decarbonisation in Britain. 

However, we are yet to see the same attention and investment given to ensuring maritime professionals can access the education and training needed to be part of that future. 

Our maritime professionals know the industry, indeed many will have worked in it their entire lives, we simply cannot afford to lose that breadth of knowledge, but without supporting access to education and training, this knowledge and these vital skills will be lost. 

If government is serious about securing a Just Transition that protects jobs, we are yet to see substantive proposals. 

Aligned with technological change to tackle the climate crisis is the issue of automation. Further automation of the maritime industry is inevitable, and our members have adopted a pragmatic approach to automation. 

They broadly support automation where it can assist with routine or repetitive tasks and, of course, where it can make their workplaces safer. 

Automation doesn’t have to be to the detriment of workers — there is a sensible and pragmatic approach to modernisation that allows for industry to revolutionise, to tackle the climate crisis and push boundaries while protecting jobs, but this requires a joined-up approach between trade unions, government and employers.

We can create a high-skilled workforce fit for the future if we recognise and utilise the skills and knowledge that exist today. 

We must commit to a Just Transition to protect our maritime professionals and guarantee that no-one is left behind. 

A fairer, brighter and more sustainable future is possible, but the political will must be there to ensure the transition is just and person-centred, not simply driven only by profit margins. 

Nautilus is committed to working across the trade union movement, as identified in our motion to TUC Congress, to ensure a just transition isn’t simply a vacuous soundbite for government but a reality for our members and workers across the transport sector.