Keynote speech at the opening of the panel on "MARITIME SECURITY: Actions for Innovative, Sustainable, Safe and Secure Maritime Transportation"
Our Ocean Forum, 3 March 2023
Keynote speech at the opening of the panel on "MARITIME SECURITY: Actions for Innovative, Sustainable, Safe and Secure Maritime Transportation"
Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, IMO
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to be here once again in Panama. I would like to thank the organizers for inviting me to provide the opening remarks at this shipping-focused panel of the Our Ocean Conference.
The ocean is at the heart of building a sustainable future and enabling the welfare and prosperity of generations to come.
Shipping is a prime user of the ocean, and it is our responsibility to ensure that all our efforts work towards creating a healthy sustainable ocean, based on responsible business practices.
We owe it to future generations to ensure that we leave them a planet that can sustain humankind for generations to come.
As we gather here in close proximity to the Panama Canal, a key conduit for maritime trade, we are all reminded that maritime transport continues to be the most economic and environmentally sustainable mode of transportation for large volumes of cargo. This is a certainty, even in uncertain times.
As the global regulator for shipping, IMO continues to ensure that the maritime sector delivers cargo safely, securely, and sustainably around the world, with continuous improvements in efficiency. In particular, we must ensure that shipping continues on its journey towards sustainability.
On this voyage, shipping must embrace decarbonization, alongside digitalization and innovative technology, including automation, while ensuring the human element is kept front and centre of this technological transition. Seafarers are key to shipping – and their wellbeing is paramount.
In just three days' time, on 6 March, we will mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the IMO Convention, which established the Organization.
Through these decades, the international regulatory regime adopted by IMO and its Member States has constantly evolved to keep up with lessons learned from incidents and from new demands, such as the imperatives of tackling climate change and accommodating changing technology.
IMO's work on safety, security and facilitation of marine traffic remains at the core of our business – along with our efforts to protect the oceans.
This year we are also celebrating 50 years since the MARPOL convention was adopted to protect the marine environment from pollution from ships.
MARPOL regulations have made a difference to how ships are built, designed and operated, and its rules have been adapted over the years to ensure that our ocean is protected from shipping activities.
It has made an immeasurable difference to the marine environment – and will continue to do so.
But the biggest challenge to the planet and ocean is climate change.
IMO Member States are currently actively engaged in upgrading the Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, which was adopted in 2018.
We will see the adoption of an upgraded Strategy this year in July. Intense work on this revision will take place until then, as all voices must be heard to achieve consensus.
I believe that IMO Member States must be ambitious and bold enough to upgrade the vision and level of ambition taking into account the messages from the latest IPCC climate report to achieve the goals set in the Paris Agreement.
There is no doubt that the revised GHG Strategy will set the framework for the way forward in support of decarbonizing shipping.
This will build on the work to date to cut GHG emissions from shipping, as the voyage towards decarbonization is already under way.
The latest set of measures to cut carbon intensity of shipping are now in force and I am convinced these will drive innovation towards transforming shipping.
Member States are engaged in developing a basket of candidate mid-term measures, including technical and economic elements, that will set global shipping on an ambitious path towards phasing out GHG emissions.
I am encouraged to see that Member States have committed to identifying priority measures to be further developed, including an economic measure.
IMO is, in tandem, working to support Member States in implementing these measures, to ensure that no one is left behind in this transition towards a decarbonized future for shipping.
I see great opportunities for countries to be part of the new green future. Many will support production and supply of low and zero-carbon fuels while others will benefit from opportunities such as an uptake of retrofitting and ship building activities. IMO will support this process.
IMO's trademark cooperation and dialogue will be more important than ever in delivering what is expected of the Organization to address not only climate change, but also biodiversity loss and marine pollution.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Shipping has undergone many successful transitions over the centuries and has voyaged through to new beginnings.
The waters may be stormy at times, but I am convinced that we will, together, through cooperation, collaboration, and partnership, ensure that this evolution is achieved and that it is just and equitable.
I also remain confident about the future of shipping and the maritime sector as it continues to evolve, and I am positive about shipping's desire to contribute to improving the health of the planet and to support sustainable development for all.
Thank you.
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