Saving the ocean is a test of multilateralism: IMO Secretary-General

Ahead of World Oceans Day (8 June), the Secretary-General of the IMO, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, called on the international community to demonstrate the “power of multilateralism” by renewing global commitments and actions to protect the ocean.  

Leading up to World Oceans Day (8 June) and to the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France (9-13 June), Mr. Dominguez urged governments, industry and civil society to seize the moment as an opportunity for global cooperation to do the right thing for future generations. 

“We all have a responsibility to safeguard our precious marine environment and resources, on which we all depend,” he said. “Governments, industries, civil society: this is our ocean, our obligation - and our opportunity. This World Ocean Day, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to intensify our work through the power of multilateral action. The ocean and the planet depend on it.”

To promote the maritime sector’s role in ocean protection, Mr. Dominguez is heading a delegation to the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice (9-13 June). This week he will meet world leaders, ocean science experts, civil society and private sector representatives to engage them in joint efforts that leverage the capacity of the shipping industry to support ocean action.  

As the largest user of ocean space, shipping moves over 80% of global trade and contributes more than USD 900 billion annually to the ocean economy. To harness the sector’s vast expertise and experience, the IMO’s Global Industry Alliance (GIA) offers a proven public-private partnership model, bringing together maritime companies and leaders from other ocean industries to support IMO climate and ocean initiatives.  

IMO will announce two new Global Industry Alliances to mobilize action on underwater noise and marine plastic pollution at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice.   

IMO’s renewed commitment builds on seven decades of setting international regulations and standards to protect the marine environment from harmful shipping activities, backed by technical cooperation. These measures have significantly reduced oil spills, ship losses, container losses and air pollution globally.  

IMO is currently intensifying its work to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss by:  

-        Acting on climate: Developing new regulations to cut greenhouse gas emissions from ships and regulate decarbonization technologies  

-        Preventing marine pollution: Addressing sea-based sources of marine plastic litter through a revised global action plan  

-        Preserving biodiversity: Developing a binding legal framework to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species via ships, and supporting Member States in tackling underwater noise.