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Billions of people globally rely on shipping. Shipping is the most cost-effective and fuel-efficient way to transport the essential raw materials, commodities and consumer goods that industries and communities need and want. The maritime sector supports the livelihood of many both directly, such as seafarers; and indirectly, such as those involved in the logistics chain. It is an essential component of economic growth. While shipping itself needs to be sustainable, its activities need to have limited to no impact on the ocean and atmospheric environment. Any negative impact of shipping on the environment must be minimized.The regulatory responsibility falls, in the main, to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency charged with developing global shipping standard, which has a strong track record in achieving safer and greener shipping. Statistics show that, against a background of ever-increasing world seaborne trade, shipping casualties have reduced over recent decades. More cargo arrives safely than ever before. Regulations have helped drive advancements in ship design, construction and equipment; and push forward improvements in mandatory seafarer training, safety management and maritime security. Safer shipping results in less accidental pollution. IMO measures have also reduced operational pollution from oil tankers, limited harmful air pollutants from ships and prohibited the discharge of plastics from ships, to name some concrete examples. IMO rules – adopted by its Member Governments and applied equally, globally, to all ships, regardless of their flag State – impact along the entire chain of responsibility, with tangible benefits. Given shipping’s role in supporting sustainable development, it has an important role to play in helping to achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Because international shipping takes place on the world’s oceans, IMO’s work is integral to SDG 14 (life below water). It addresses marine pollution from both sea-based and indirectly from land-based sources such as the dumping of wastes and other matter. It supports targets set by SDG 14 for managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems, through the establishment of ‘Special Areas’ and ‘Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas’ as well as ‘Emission Control Areas’. IMO’s work to mitigate the threat of invasive species in ships’ ballast water helps protect marine biodiversity. As for SDG 13 (combat climate change), IMO has adopted a raft of global, mandatory, energy-efficiency measures to address greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, IMO has established a regulatory framework, under treaties which regulate the dumping of wastes at sea, that will contribute to climate-change mitigation by regulating carbon capture and sequestration in subsea geological formations and for marine geoengineering. Global capacity-building activities, driven by IMO, are ensuring that countries worldwide are being supported to implement these measures effectively. These projects are also raising awareness about how KITACK LIM, SECRETARY-GENERAL, INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO) DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY – IMO’S CONTRIBUTION “IMO HAS ADOPTED A RAFT OF GLOBAL, MANDATORY, ENERGY-EFFICIENCY MEASURES TO ADDRESS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS”096 GLOBAL VOICES