The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a shared blueprint for prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which are an urgent call for action in a global partnership. As part of the United Nations family, IMO is actively working towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the associated SDGs.
IMO's Technical Cooperation Committee has formally identified and approved linkages between IMO’s technical assistance work and the SDGs. The MEPSEAS Project aims to enhance the countries' capacity to implement a number of high-priority treaties. Among the SDGs, SDG 14 is central to IMO but IMO’s and MEPSEAS work can also be linked to other SDGs, as can be seen below.
Sustainable Development Goal 5 - Achieve gender equailty and empower all women and girls
Shipping is a male-dominated industry. IMO believes that empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurs productivity and growth, and benefits every stakeholder in the global maritime community. In keeping with SDG 5, delegations from the MEPSEAS participating countries emphasized their interest in gender equality by establishing future further engagement with the strategic partner, Women in Maritime Association Asia (WIMA Asia) at Second High-Level Regional Meeting in the Philippines (27-29 August 2019).
Sustainable Development Goal 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Several of the MEPSEAS Project components deal with the international regulations that govern transportation of oil and gas through the sea, and identifying initiatives to promote energy efficient maritime transport (MARPOL related). Promoting the implementation of the various regulations under MARPOL will be supporting this particular SDG.
Sustainable Development Goal 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
The project includes several components on industry partnership and technology diffusion all of which promote identifying innovative and locally appropriate solutions to address marine environment protection. The MEPSEAS Regional Marine Environment Technology Conference, which will provide a forum for the shipping industry to discuss environmental solutions is one of the components mentioned above.
Sustainable Development Goal 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
IMO covers all aspects of international shipping - including ship design, construction, equipment, manning, operation and disposal - to ensure that this vital sector remains safe, environmentally sound, energy efficient and secure. Implementing and enforcing the main conventions and regulations adopted by IMO Member States actively addresses marine pollution from sea-based sources. Under the MEPSEAS Project a training package for the implementation of marine environment protection conventions has been developed and is currently delivered in all participating countries. Thus far, the training package covers the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (AFS) Convention, the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention and the Annex V of the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Convention.
Sustainable Development Goal 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
SDG 17 calls upon global partnerships to support the achievement of the SDGs in all countries, in particular developing countries. IMO actively pursues specific partnerships with its Member States and others to execute individual projects or initiatives at both regional and global level. In keeping with SDG 17, the MEPSEAS Project facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries. One way this is achieved is through regional partnerships and a recent example of this is the Train-The-Trainers workshop supported and hosted by the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore, which was attended by training experts from all MEPSEAS participating countries.