Bjørn Kjærand Haugland, EVP & Chief Sustainability Officer of DNV GL presented the company’s new report, named “Sustainable Development Goals: Exploring Maritime Opportunities” for the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA), exploring the potential for the shipping industry to be a part of and align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, in line with global needs.
Mr Haugland notes that the analysis outlines five opportunity areas:
Act on the Paris Agreement
- Support strategies for the reduction of GHG emissions from international shipping through the IMO
- Develop and implement low-carbon solutions on board ships
- Develop international industry standards to scale up low-carbon solutions
- Support the development of financial incentives to install low-carbon solutions on board ships
- Work with stakeholders in the value chain to enable slow steaming
- Understand risks and opportunities related to a changing climate and a low-carbon economy
- Facilitate the transition to an equitable and resilient low-carbon economy
Build sustainable communities and infrastructure
- Develop and implement zeroemission transport concepts in cities and other populated coastal areas
- Research and develop methods to measure and control particulate matter (PM)
- Develop transport solutions for moving goods by sea instead of on land
- Support sustainable energy infrastructure
- Alleviate pressure from land-based activities
- Develop and implement solutions for producing and transporting clean drinking water
Protect life in the oceans
- Develop and implement solutions for collecting plastic waste in the oceans
- Prevent transfer of alien species across geographies
- Use ships to collect ocean research data
Create a sustainable future for the ocean economy
- Facilitate resource harvesting in the ocean space, including food, minerals and energy
- Create global governance for resource harvesting in the ocean space
Promote responsible practices
- Ensure decent work, living wages and responsible practices in the maritime industry
- Increase transparency and accountability
- Combat corruption and bribery
Mr Haugland cites that the maritime sector represents the world’s most important transport infrastructure – transporting more than 80% of worlds goods, so all the SDGs are relevant to this sector. The shipping industry has the greatest potential to contribute to the goals on climate action, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, life below water, good health and well-being, decent work and economic growth and life on land.
Further details may be found by reading the full report:
