Shipping is the most environmentally sound mode of transport, having the lowest carbon footprint per unit of cargo transported. Therefore, we are talking about an essential component of sustainable economic growth. But how does shipping industry contribute to achieving UN SDGs?
The UN SDGs at a glance
In September 2015, the UN’s 193 Member States unanimously adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) –otherwise known as the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, including 17 goals in total and 169 related targets which demonstrate action towards critical areas for humanity and the planet. Hailed as a historic agreement forging a pathway to sustainability, the 2030 Agenda has been called a plan of action for “people, planet and prosperity”.
The SDGs outline the Organization’s commitment to expand opportunities for all, by empowering women, meaningfully including young people, reducing climate risk, creating decent jobs and mobilizing clean investments for inclusive growth. According to the UN chief, the 2030 Agenda is crucial to rebuild the trust needed for fair globalization.
IMO and UN SDGs
By transporting about 90% of world trade, industry’s key focus has been shed on promoting sustainable development across the globe
IMO, a UN agency with 173 Member States that counts 70 since establishment, is responsible for developing the international standards for global shipping with the aim to provide dependable, low-cost means of transporting goods globally, facilitate commerce and help to create prosperity among nations and peoples.
For this purpose, IMO has a comprehensive technical cooperation program which supports the effective implementation of those global standards (including those relating to maritime safety and security and prevention of pollution form ships) through capacity building activities. Projects and other programs also serve to strengthen and promote the maritime transportation industry in developing countries, including those which provide the international labour force for shipping.
IMO recognizes that, for its Member States and the UN system to implement the 2030 Agenda, this new framework will have to be translated into national policies and strategies taking into account cross cutting issues. As the 2030 Agenda will be implemented principally at the country level, IMO has committed to develop and formulate innovative and targeted maritime policies to respond to the needs of countries at the national, regional and global levels.
UN SDGs & shipping
International shipping is indispensable to the functioning of global trade, thus indirectly plays a role in all of the SDGs.
While each SDG addresses a different aspect of sustainability, the SDGs are interconnected.
IMO notes
Therefore, some IMO activities may contribute to more than one goal.
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Shipping industry could meet this goal by providing even more viable shipping services based on solar, tidal, wind, wave and biomass energy. Furthermore, the use of renewable energy solutions in its own operations, such as biofuels, hydrogen, solar and wind could improve energy efficiency of both ports and ships.
As of now, LNG continues being the greatest growth amongst the alternative energy offerings in shipping industry. In order to meet the great global challenge ahead, vessels could also use various types of oil, methanol, methane, bio-fuels. However, we expect to see greater interest in renewable energy sources.
Specifically, future use of energy in our industry will be hybrid (at least for the shorter routes). For instance, Yara Birkeland will be the world’s first autonomous, fully electric and zero emissions ship to be launched by 2020. For coastal and short-sea shipping, battery technology may prevail; for deep-sea, hydrogen will be a viable alternative energy source, while ships at ports could use more shore power supplied from land-based grid. As far as the wave power is concerned it will take time, but the industry will eventually utilize the enormous power of the oceans.
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Building resilient infrastructure is central to the effective functioning of the whole shipping sector. IMO contributes to SDG 9 by providing a legal and regulatory framework, capacity-building initiatives and a forum for Member States to exchange knowledge and experience.
As of now, new, ecofriendly technologies help shipping contribute to this goal, bringing significant beneficial changes in the way ships are designed, constructed and operated, contributing to a more interconnected and efficient global supply chain.
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
The goal relates to a careful management of the seas and marine resources as a key step towards sustainable development. The world’s rainwater, drinking water, weather, climate, coastlines, much of the food, and even the oxygen in the air, are all ultimately provided and regulated by the sea.
To help protect maritime wildlife, shipping industry’s work includes reduction of underwater noise from ships and adopting measures to avoid collisions between ships and marine mammals. IMO has also banned the discharge of harmful litter from ships, part of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter.
Furthermore, dumping of wastes at sea is regulated by the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, commonly called the London Convention, and its 1996 Protocol.
IMO’s work
Managing seaborne trade and emissions require the industry to address the association of climate action and sustainable development. Recently, MEPC 72 adopted a long overdue strategy to reduce the total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 and to address other salient issues including marine biodiversity impacts and marine litter.
Seaborne trade continues to be central to people’s livelihoods and cultures (SDGs 1, 2, 12), prosperity and world economy (SDGs 8, 9, 12). It also has far-reaching and long-lasting impacts on the health of oceans, marine biodiversity and air quality (SDGs 4, 13, 14, 15), and has implications for partnership (SDG 17) and Peace (SDG 16).
SDG 17 calls upon global partnerships to support the achievement of the SDGs in all countries, in particular developing countries. In this respect, shipping industry has joined forces forging a pathway to sustainability by managing its own operations sustainably; influencing suppliers; generating economic growth and work and protecting natural resources and human rights for the future.
The following actions are indicative of IMO’s support of UN SDGs:
- Gender equality is enhanced through the IMO network of regional associations for women managers, providing access to specialized training, promoting economic self-reliance, and improving employment opportunities for women at the decision making levels in the port and maritime sectors (SDG 5)
- IMO is working with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing (SDG 2)
- STCW sets global standards of competence for seafarers and effective mechanisms for enforcing its provisions (SDG 4)
- The London Convention and its Protocol regulate dumping and waste disposal at sea, a key component of the overall waste-management cycle. (SDGs 6,12,14)
- GloMEEP and the GMN project aim to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all (SDG 7)
- IMO’s Hong Kong International Convention provides a framework for safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships themselves. (SDG 12)
