18 June 2012: During its 108th session, the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted “Sustainable Development: IMO’s contribution beyond Rio+20” as the World Maritime Day theme for 2013. IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu proposed the theme in order to focus the IMO’s efforts on the commitments to be made at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

Based on the UNCSD themes of the institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD) and a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, Sekimizu identified relevant elements of sustainable shipping including on energy efficiency, new technology and innovation, maritime education and training, maritime security, maritime traffic management and the development of maritime infrastructure in both developed and developing countries.

According to Sekimizu, global standards are needed that are “developed and maintained by IMO with a view to ensuring safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sound international shipping.” [IMO Press Release]