The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a shared blueprint for prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action in global partnership.
The OceanLitter Programme contributes to the eight SDGs below through objectives and activities directly aligned and related to SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
Sustainable Development Goal 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
The OceanLitter Programme works with the Women in Maritime programme at the IMO to encourage its participating Member States to open their doors to women and enable them to take part and/or train alongside men so as to acquire the high-level of competency that the maritime industry demands.
In 2021, under the GloLitter Partnerships Project, the Joanna Toole GloLitter Partnerships Grant was launched (managed by the Ocean Conservancy). The grant provides financial support to women-led projects and initiatives in developing countries working to address Sea-Based Marine Plastic Litter (SBMPL) and Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG). Information about the grantees can be found via the Ocean Conservancy.
In addition, the GloLitter Partnerships Project supports seed funding initiatives in select pilot countries to empower women's engagement in marine plastic litter management in small scale fishing communities.
Sustainable Development Goal 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
The OceanLitter Programme supports the conservation and sustainable use of marine ecosystems and resources, specifically by mitigating sea-based marine plastic litter.
While activities implemented by projects under the OceanLitter Programme support a variety of SDG 14 targets, they specifically support target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
IMO regulations cover all aspects of international shipping (including ship design, construction, equipment, manning, operation and disposal) in order to ensure that this vital sector remains safe, environmentally sound, energy efficient and secure.
Implementing and enforcing the conventions and regulations adopted by IMO Member States actively addresses marine pollution from sea-based sources. Under the GloLitter Partnership Project, several guidance documents as well as training webinars, are being offered to improve practices within current Port Reception Facilities and the development of Port Waste Management Plans that comply with marine environment protection regulations. The resources developed under the project have been made publically available for all countries to use via the OceanLitter Programme Resources Library.
Participating countries will be identifying collaborative opportunities for further activities with their Lead Partner Countries, while all Lead Partner Countries will be supported through the development of a National Action Plan to help with the implementation of the IMO Action Plan on Marine Plastic Litter and the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for the Marking of Fishing Gear.
Select Lead Partner Countries will have the opportunity to be involved in port demonstration activities.
In addition, the OceanLitter Programme addresses sea-based marine plastic litter from the fisheries sector through associated trainings and twinning activities, as identified above. Activities also support legal, policy and institutional reforms, the development of knowledge products to raise awareness of sea-based marine plastic litter, particularly in the form of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG); ongoing research to fill knowledge gaps around sea-based marine plastic litter including ALDFG; and the empowerment of women to manage marine plastic litter.
Sustainable Development Goal 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.
Sustainable development goal 17 calls for global partnerships to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular Developing Countries and Small Islands Developing States.
IMO actively pursues specific partnerships with its Member States and others to execute projects or initiatives at both regional and global level. The OceanLitter Programme facilitates cooperation between participating countries by developing regional partnerships. One way this is achieved is through activities such as regional workshops, supported and hosted by a Lead Partner Country, in which Partner Countries have the possibility to identify shared aspirations and join or 'twin' with a Lead Partner Country to develop a unified or synergistic response to implement measures against sea-based plastic litter.