Addressing biodiversity loss and pollution as the shipping sector decarbonizes: Opportunities for an ecosystem based approach

 

The international shipping sector, integral to society and the global economy, substantially contributes to ecosystem pressures such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a greenhouse gas strategy (MEPC, 2023a) that aims for net-zero emissions by around 2050. This strategy will prompt far-reaching changes to the sector, with implications for e.g. ship building, maritime operations, policy and regulations. It also presents opportunities to reduce a range of ecosystem pressures that result in biodiversity loss and pollution from shipping.

This presentation will present opportunities for the shipping sector to adopt an ecosystem based approach to reduce biodiversity loss and pollution as the sector decarbonizes. Ecosystem-based approaches are essential to managing shipping's environmental and social impacts, including cumulative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Implementing these approaches requires cross-disciplinary capacity building and collaboration across the shipping sector, related industries, governing bodies, and society at large. This presentation will  address important knowledge gaps in ecosystem monitoring and assessment, governance, and mitigation strategies. It will highlight opportunities for ecosystem-based approaches to monitoring and assessment, for area based management (e.g. through Particiularly sensitive sea areas and green corridors), for ports, for operations. It will offer a set of indicators for tracking progress. It will present opportunities for stakeholders (such as IMO member states, ship builders, owners and operators, ports, financiers and insurers) to reduce shipping's environmental impact through an ecosystem based approach and considering co-benefits of mitigation efforts. It will highlight opportunities for decision-making processes to engage Indigenous People and Local Community (IPLC) Groups. Finally it will address opportunities for the shipping sector to address the targets of the new Global Biodiversity Framework.