Colourful fish swimming by a coral reef and some plastic floating in the water

What we are doing at the UN Ocean Conference

Published: 23 June 2022

We are heading to the UN Ocean Conference - arguably the most important event in the calendar for invigorating ocean action in support of Sustainable Development Goal -14- Life below water. We’d love to hear your views on how you are striving towards achieving SDG-14.

The 2nd UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, 27 June to 1 July 2022, co-organized by the Governments of Portugal and Kenya, is expected to deliver science-driven innovations and solutions to respond to this environmental emergency and will see nearly 5000 ocean advocates, including world leaders, entrepreneurs, youth, influencers and scientists gather to ignite fresh impetus for advancing Sustainable Development Goal 14 – at the heart of global action to protect life under water. BIMCO will attend the event, participating in side events, to both highlight the positive actions of the shipping industry and to gather information that can support the industry in actively contributing to SDG 14.

As well as being simply being in attendance- and in support of our newly established strategic partnership with the GloLitter Partnerships Program we are delighted to co-sponsor the side event entitled “Global partnerships: Strengthening SDG 14 efforts in the shipping and fisheries sectors through a science-based, multi-tiered approachThe event will focus on how international organisations can successfully partner with national governments, private sector, and academia to address sea-based marine plastic litter from shipping and fisheries and provides an excellent forum for the work being undertaken by BIMCO members (including panel members Wilhelmsen) to reduce the plastic footprint of shipping operations. 

As well as marine plastics, noise will also be a topic of intense debate and discussion at the conference. BIMCO will participate in a panel session as part of the side event titled Reduce Ocean Noise and Save Our Ocean”. The side event will present and discusses the multi-environmental benefits of noise prevention and mitigation measures from shipping and the oil & gas sector. Dr Bev Mackenzie, BIMCO’s Manager Marine Environment and London Representative, will discuss the need for a level playing field when it comes to regulation as well as steps the shipping industry might take to address the issue of underwater radiated noise and the long and short term effects on marine life.

For more information on the UN Ocean Conference please visit 2022 UN Ocean Conference | United Nations and to share any views please reach out to Dr Bev Mackenzie.

Beverley Mackenzie

CONTACT BIMCO

Dr. Bev Mackenzie

Head of Intergovernmental Engagement

London, United Kingdom