WMU Registers Commitment to SDG 14 at UN Oceans Conference
WMU President Doumbia-Henry, COO Nikolaus Schultze, and Professors Larry Hildebrand and Ronan Long participated at the high-level United Nations Oceans Conference at UN headquarters in New York from 5 to 9 June to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14.
The World Maritime University says it was involved in the organization of two side events at the Conference in conjunction with the Governments of Sweden and Fiji, the International Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Finland, along with several industry partners including the World Ocean Council. The events focused on the role of the private sector in combating climate change affecting the ocean as well as the vital subject of collaboration in public private partnership for engendering a sustainable maritime future.
In her remarks, President Doumbia-Henry emphasized that education and training at the WMU is an essential element in delivering the operational targets of the Sustainable Development Goals in general, and Goal 14 in particular. To this end, WMU registered a commitment that aims to contribute to the implementation of Goal 14 by training a new generation of maritime leaders through the delivery of specialist post-graduate educational programmes in Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management, as well as in Maritime Energy Management, amongst others. The WMU also noted its plan to launch a Global Ocean Institute in early 2018 with the support of The Nippon Foundation. The new Research Institute will work across the sectoral divides in ocean affairs, engage in forward-looking dialogue among representatives of governments, ocean industries, research communities, civil society and other academic institutions, and produce policy and regulatory advice on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.