International Maritime Organization (IMO)
1. Responding to the multiple crises, has the governing body of your organization taken any decisions or adopted any new strategies to enhance effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions and to reinforce the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and poverty eradication?
In the 132nd session of IMO Council meeting held in July 2024, IMO Council approved the report of 74th session of Technical Cooperation Committee (TCC meeting) which made progress on IMO Capacity Development Strategy, global maritime training institutions update (WMU and IMLI), and resource mobilization for technical cooperation. Although there is no specific reference to poverty eradication, supporting education through WMU and IMLI and providing capacity building activities contributes to increasing the opportunity of people to obtain better qualification, consequently with better salary and this has indirect ripple effect to the poverty eradication. In this area, IMO also gives the priority to women and applicants from developing countries.
Furthermore, IMO has been advocating improvement of ferry safety, in particular in developing Member States where such transportation is the main mode. Especially in archipelagic Member States, millions of people rely on ferries on a daily basis. Nevertheless, safety records are unacceptably poor. This leads to poverty. IMO has been collaborating with observers which represent the industry worldwide.
It is commonly estimated that approximately 80 lives are lost per 100,000 fishers on average. IMO has been working for many years, alongside other stakeholders, to enhance fishing vessel safety – and save lives at sea. To that end, IMO has also been promoting the entry into force of the 2012 Cape Town Agreement on fishing vessel safety. The Agreement, yet to enter into force in the very near future, addresses fishing vessels’ design, equipment and construction standards to enhance safety of fishers and observers. IMO has been collaborating with FAO and ILO, given that safe and sustainable fisheries sit on such instruments that are brought forward by the three UN organizations. With the improvement of safety onboard fishing vessels, this occupation will become more attractive to both men and women so as to fight against poverty. The IMO-ILO-FAO Joint Working Group on IUU Fishing and Related Matters is a collaborative group formed by three key UN agencies, and meets regularly to address crosscutting issues on safe and sustainable fisheries.
2. In the past year, has your organization organized any intergovernmentally mandated conferences, forums or events that contributed to the achievement of the SDGs, or in the process of planning and organizing any such mandated events to be held next year?
Four events contributed to the achievement of the SDGs related to Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions were organized in 2024, as follows:
Fifth GHG Expert Workshop on the Further Development of the Basket of Mid-term Measures (GHG-EW 5)
| Event Name: | Fifth GHG Expert Workshop on the Further Development of the Basket of Mid-term Measures (GHG-EW 5) |
| Event Dates: | 4 and 5 September 2024 |
| Event Location (City, Country): | IMO Headquarters, London, UK |
| Relevant SDGs: | 13 |
| Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | Fifth GHG Expert Workshop on the Further Development of the Basket of Mid-term Measures (GHG-EW 5) was organized to facilitate the understanding of the preliminary findings of the comprehensive impact assessment (CIA) of the basket of candidate mid-term GHG reduction measures, laying the groundwork for extensive long-term strategies aimed at combating climate change. Experts gathered to discuss measures, evaluate their effectiveness, and explore potential new initiatives through analysis of the assessment of 4 distinct but interrelated tasks: literature review, impacts of mid-term measures on fleet, impacts on States and qualitative/quantitative stakeholders analysis which assessed the possible impacts of certain policy combinations of candidate mid-term measures in 10 selected Member States. Implementation of the mid-term GHG reduction measures should effectively strengthen resilience against the impacts of climate change, promote the energy transition of shipping and provide the world fleet a needed incentive while contributing to a level playing field and a just and equitable transition. |
| Website (if applicable) |
Sixth Expert Workshop on Further development of the basket of candidate measures
| Event Name: | Sixth Expert Workshop on Further development of the basket of candidate measures |
| Event Dates: | Scheduled for 13 February 2025 |
| Event Location (City, Country): | IMO Headquarters, London, UK |
| Relevant SDGs: | 2 and 13 |
| Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | Sixth Expert Workshop on Further development of the basket of candidate measures will be focused on assessment of the potential impacts of possible policy scenarios assessed under the comprehensive impact assessment (CIA) of the basket of candidate mid-term GHG reduction measures on food security. This supplementary work centered, in particular, on possible cost increases and price volatility of essential food commodities, critical agricultural input, notably in net food importing developing countries, will be vital in understanding how the potential impacts of increased maritime transport costs, resulting from GHG reduction measures in international shipping, can affect global food security. |
| Website (if applicable) |
Polar Maritime Seminar
| Event Name: | Polar Maritime Seminar |
| Event Dates: | Scheduled for 23 and 24 January 2025 |
| Event Location (City, Country): | IMO Headquarters, London, UK |
| Relevant SDGs: | 9 and 14 |
| Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | Jointly organized by IMO and the Artic Council, the purpose of the Polar Maritime Seminar is to deliver an update on issues concerning Arctic and Antarctic vessel traffic activity. The two-day session will provide a necessary platform for experts to exchange views on several matters related to the safety, voyage planning, the PAME (The Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment Working Group under Arctic Council) project ‘Review of the Polar Operational Limit Assessment Risk Indexing System (POLARIS)’, search and rescue and training of seafarers for polar operations, and fishing vessel safety. Seminar will also provide an opportunity for further discussions on concerns in the polar region including, underwater noise, low sulphur fuels, black carbon from ships, plastics pollution, arrangements for port reception facilities, and issues surrounding invasive species. |
| Website (if applicable) |
World Maritime Day Parallel Event
Event Name: | World Maritime Day Parallel Event |
Event Dates: | 20 to 22 October 2024 |
Event Location (City, Country): | Barcelona, Spain |
Relevant SDGs: | SDG 7 on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by facilitating access to clean energy research and technology; SDG 8 on promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; SDG 9 on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation; SDG 13 on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; and SDG 14 on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development |
Description (max 150 words): please include a short summary of the event’s mandate and contributions to the SDGs, including its main outcome(s) | The World Maritime Day Parallel Event focused on the year’s theme "Navigating the future: safety first!", which highlights IMO’s commitment to enhancing maritime safety and security, in tandem with the protection of the marine environment, whilst ensuring its regulatory development process safely anticipates the fast pace of technological change and innovation |
Website (if applicable) |
3. In the past year, has your organization published or planned to publish any analytical work or guidance note or toolkits to guide and support the implementation of SDGs at national, regional and global levels? Please select up to three to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs.
Relevant analytical work or guidance notes or toolkits to guide and support the implementation of SDGs at national, regional and global levels:
Revised Guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life
| Resource Name | Revised Guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life |
| Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | 9 and 14 |
| Publishing entity/entities | IMO |
| Target audience | IMO Member States, designers, shipbuilders, shipowners, ship operators and any other interested parties |
| Description (max 150 words) | Revised Guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise (URN) from shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life provides information on practices which can be implemented for reducing underwater radiated noise from ships and raises awareness of the issue with all parties concerned, in particular ship and equipment designers, shipbuilders and shipowners and operators, classification societies, suppliers, manufacturers and other stakeholders. Through EBP, IMO Member States and other stakeholders are invited to gather, prepare and submit experiences, data and research on the key areas of URN. |
| Language(s) | English, French and Spanish |
| Website (if applicable) |
2024 Guidelines on life cycle GHG intensity of marine fuels
| Resource Name | 2024 Guidelines on life cycle GHG intensity of marine fuels |
| Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | 7 and 13 |
| Publishing entity/entities | IMO |
| Target audience | IMO Member States, shipowners, ship operators, shipbuilders, ship designers, energy companies, fuel producers, bunkering companies, engine manufacturers and any other interested parties |
| Description (max 150 words) | Guidelines provide guidance on life cycle assessments which serve as an evaluation tool for the total GHG emissions associated with marine fuels—from production and refining to transportation and combustion. In depth, the guidance provided focuses on all fuels and other energy carriers (e.g. electricity) used on board a ship and aim at covering the whole fuel life cycle (with specific boundaries), from feedstock extraction/cultivation/ recovery, feedstock conversion to a fuel product, transportation as well as distribution/bunkering, and fuel utilization on board a ship. |
| Language(s) | English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian |
| Website (if applicable) |
4. In connection with the 2023 SDG Summit, the United Nations development system announced 12 High-Impact Initiatives where transformative progress is possible despite challenging global circumstances. Please share if your organization is contributing to any of these High Impact Initiatives and how various actors are being rallied behind them to mobilize further leadership and investment to bring progress to scale.
The following relevant actions to support 12 High-Impact Initiatives are as follows:
Digital Public Infrastructure (Scaling inclusive and open digital ecosystems for the SDGs)
The support for developing maritime single window systems, which streamline port operations and reduce delays, remained stable in terms of the number of initiatives, with six activities reported in 2024. A maritime single window is a one-stop digital platform through which various agencies can share and exchange information needed to clear the arrival, stay and departure of ships quickly and efficiently. The establishment of Maritime Single Windows in all ports is an obligation since January 2024, and this requirement marks a significant step in accelerating the digitalization of shipping. Additionally, the introduction of an e-learning course in 2023 to support the implementation of maritime single-window systems represents an innovative approach to capacity development globally. This stability, combined with educational initiatives, suggests a steady commitment to improving operational efficiencies at ports, which is essential for trade facilitation and reducing the environmental impact of shipping operations.
Energy Compacts (Scaling up ambition to deliver on SDG7)
Through its Initial IMO GHG Strategy, IMO established ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions from international shipping. The strategy initially aimed for a 50% reduction in emissions by 2050, compared to 2008 levels, with full decarbonization efforts set for the coming decades. This target contributes to SDG 7 by encouraging clean energy adoption in shipping and supporting the transition away from fossil fuel reliance. In addition, IMO also sets energy efficiency standards and technical regulations; research and development through IMO GreenVoyage 2050 and GloMEEP projects; as well as collaboration with relevant international organizations such as IRENA and UNFCCC.
Food Systems Transformation (Transforming food systems for a sustainable world without hunger)
Through its regulatory frameworks for maritime transport, IMO supports the global supply chain including the movement of food and agricultural products across the world. This contribution enhances food security, reduces food loss, and addresses hunger, particularly in vulnerable regions. By improving the efficiency and sustainability of global shipping routes and ports, IMO strengthens the overall resilience of the food supply chain, ensuring that essential food products reach those in need, especially even in times of crises.
Global Accelerator (The Global Accelerator on jobs and social protection for just transitions)
IMO collaborates with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to ensure that maritime labor standards, including social protections and working conditions, are safeguarded and adapted as the industry undergoes changes. This collaboration ensures seafarers and shore-based workers have adequate protection.
Through conventions and guidelines, IMO reinforces safety standards for the maritime workforce. The IMO’s standards for crew welfare and safety in relation to new green technologies support the well-being of workers as new risks associated with technologies like alternative fuels emerge.
Nature Driving Economic Transformation (Leveraging the power of biodiversity and nature to drive equitable economic progress)
IMO contributes to "Nature Driving Economic Transformation" by promoting sustainable maritime practices that protect marine biodiversity and support economic progress. Through regulations such as the MARPOL Convention, the Ballast Water Management Convention, Hong Kong Convention, Anti-Fouling System Convention, and decarbonization efforts such as the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index, IMO reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, safeguarding marine ecosystems. Additionally, IMO supports sustainable port operations, the establishment of Marine Protected Areas, and the use of nature-based solutions to enhance coastal resilience. By fostering capacity building in developing countries and collaborating with other UN agencies, IMO helps ensure that maritime industries contribute to equitable economic growth while preserving nature.
5. In addition to the above, has your organization been part of any other initiatives or multi-stakeholder partnerships that enhance effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions and reinforce the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially in the areas of poverty eradication (SDG1), food systems transformation (SDG2), climate action (SDG13), governance (SDG16), partnerships (SDG17), which will go under in-depth review at the HLPF in 2024, or related to the Secretary-General’s proposals in Our Common Agenda?
IMO organized two initiatives in relation to enhancing effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions and reinforce the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as follows:
Future Fuels and Technology for Low- and Zero- Carbon Shipping Project (FFT Project)
| Initiative/Partnership Name | Future Fuels and Technology for Low- and Zero- Carbon Shipping Project (FFT Project) |
| Partners (please list all partners) | Government of the Republic of Korea |
| Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | 7,9, 13 and 17 |
| Member States benefiting from it | IMO Member States, ship operators, energy companies, fuel producers and any other interested parties |
| Description (max 150 words) | Upon adoption of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy in July 2023, which outlines a framework for the future of international shipping in the shape of the levels of ambition created to reduce GHG emissions, IMO, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea, implemented the “Future Fuels and Technology for Low- and Zero- Carbon Shipping Project (FFT Project)”. This partnership project aims to provide technical analysis and easy access to the latest information on zero- and near-zero marine fuels and technologies in support of the implementation of the IMO GHG Strategy through three main workstreams:
|
| Website | https://futurefuels.imo.org/ |
Food security study
| Initiative/Partnership Name | Food security study |
| Partners (please list all partners) | Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN-ECA), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), World Maritime University (WMU), World Food Programme, World Bank, African Development Bank, Inter American Development Bank (IDB), OECD and the International Grains Council |
| Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | 2, 13 and 17 |
| Member States benefiting from it | IMO Member States and any other interested parties |
| Description (max 150 words) | In cooperation with several relevant UN agencies and international organization, under the umbrella of the conduct of the comprehensive impact assessment (CIA) of candidate mid-term GHG reduction measures,
While evaluating the potential impacts of these measures on food security, in particular how maritime transport cost increases, among other factors, could impact food security, on the basis of existing studies, indices, reports, outlooks, etc. of these organizations, this food security study aims to assess possible impacts on food security resulting from the future introduction of measures reducing the climate impact of global shipping, amongst other determinants, in particular essential food commodities and critical agricultural input, notably in net food importing developing countries. |
| Website | n/a |
Guidelines on good practice relating to clean-up of plastic pellets from ship-source releases
| Initiative/Partnership Name | Guidelines on good practice relating to clean-up of plastic pellets from ship-source releases |
| Relevant SDGs (list all relevant goals) | 6 and 14 |
| Publishing entity/entities | IMO |
| Target audience | IMO Member States, shipowners, ship operators and any other interested parties |
| Description (max 150 words) | Plastic pellets are small plastic granules widely used as a raw material in the creation of plastic products. Normally transported by the tonne in freight containers, spills in the ocean can harm marine life and impact fishing, aquaculture and tourism activities The Guidelines provide practical guidance for government authorities to ensure clean up actions are appropriate and effective. The guidelines cover contingency planning, response, post-spill monitoring and analysis, and intervention and cost recovery. They provide broad guidance on the development of large-scale strategies relevant to National Contingency Plans (NCPs), and also practical guidance relevant to developing smaller-scale site specific response plans (e.g. supplementing Local Contingency Plans (LCPs)). |
| Language: | English |
| Website | n/a |
6. In the Political Declaration adopted at the 2023 SDG Summit, Member States committed to using the review of the high-level political forum at the 78th session of the General Assembly to further strengthen the follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, harnessing data to track progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, strengthening analysis of the interlinkages across the Goals and targets, including policy implications of their synergies and trade-offs. Please provide your organization’s recommendations, if any, in this regard.
Harnessing data to track progress on the SDGs, in alignment with the Political Declaration adopted at the 2023 SDG Summit, requires the development of comprehensive, integrated data systems that can inform, monitor, and accelerate sustainable development efforts. This can be achieved by strengthening national statistical systems, promoting capacity building, and standardizing data formats to facilitate more effective data collection, sharing, and analysis.
Countries with different levels of data capacity should be supported through technical assistance, ensuring that all nations, especially those with limited resources, can contribute to and benefit from the global data ecosystem. This includes developing the infrastructure, tools, and human resources necessary to gather high-quality, accurate data that reflects the progress toward SDG targets.
At the same time, data security must be prioritized. Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of data is crucial for maintaining trust in the process and safeguarding sensitive information.
Additionally, the use of data should be approached with caution to avoid misinterpretation or overgeneralization. Data results must be used to inform relevant analysis and decision-making processes, ensuring that actions taken are based on sound evidence and contribute meaningfully to achieving the SDGs. By combining data security with strengthened capacities and enhanced cooperation, countries can effectively track progress and make informed decisions that drive the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.