The SDGs extend beyond the realm of the public sector. They are a call for action to all societal actors, giving particular importance to the role of non-state actors, including business. The SDGs present an extraordinary opportunity for companies to align their strategies and business models with global sustainable development needs.
As a global industry, shipping has a critical role to play in meeting many of the goals, and especially regarding goal 14, and indeed is already contributing to several of the main targets.
This report explores shippings potential contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals and identifies five main opportunity areas where the shipping industry can contribute. The report takes how the industry is already contributing to achieving the goals as its point of departure, and looks forward towards emerging opportunities.
We examine how shipping can contribute to the SDGs through:
managing its own operations sustainably;
influencing and setting requirements for suppliers in the maritime industry;
enabling other industries in the ocean space to generate economic growth and work, while protecting natural resources for the future.
For SDG 14 in particular, the report identifies the following action points:
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
Progress reports
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
Type of commitment
- Other (please specify): Initial mapping of maritime sectors impact on the ocean health and insights on how to address it.
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
Type of commitment
- Activities to raise awareness of the comprehensive legal and policy framework for the sustainable development of oceans and seas, in particular UNCLOS, its Implementing Agreements and other relevant ocean-related instruments and promote their effective im
12/2018
