The Brundtland definition emphasizes intergenerational be conceived as measurable results, but rather an

equity to the extent that it includes not only the
present but also the future impacts on civil society
of today’s actions. Moreover, it has a truly global
dimension inasmuch as it recognizes that the effects of
environmental degradation cannot be construed as local
because they affect the global ecological system.
The concept of sustainable development gained
further ground at the UN Conference on Sustainable
Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. Known as
Rio+20, the Conference witnessed intense negotiations
that resulted in the outcome document, entitled “The
Future We Want”. The document calls for a wide range
of actions and also commits Governments to working
towards a transition to a “green economy”. This should
evolve around the three, equally important, dimensions of
sustainable development – i.e. the economic, social and
environmental dimensions.
Most importantly, at Rio+20, Governments agreed that
the UN General Assembly should launch a process to
establish a set of specific Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), together with a strategy to finance their
implementation.
To develop the SDGs, a 30-member Open Working
Group of the UN General Assembly was established
in January 2013 and has commenced its work on the
SDGs. The SDGs are to be limited in number, aspirational
and easy to communicate.
expression of a desirable state.
This document is presented with the understanding
that it is aimed at the transport dimension of activities
the Maritime Transportation System, and as such does
not cover for example fisheries and offshore resource
exploitation. As for the transportation dimension it does
not consider contractual rules such as Hague-Visby and
UNCITRAL rules (Hamburg rules, Rotterdam rules, etc.).
The three dimensions of sustainable development,
namely the economic, environmental and social
dimensions, are equally important – also in the context of
maritime transport.
In an evolving world where economies are ever more
interdependent and natural resources are under
increasing pressure, we must work in global partnerships
to reach the common goal of balancing expectations
about industrialization and growth with social and
environmental demands. As the UN Specialized Agency
responsible for setting global standards for safe,
secure, clean and efficient maritime transport, IMO
can contribute to widening awareness of the need for
sustainable maritime development and for coordinated
maritime policies worldwide.

It is expected that the SDGs will focus on establishing

the fundamental criteria that will need to be in place and
applied in order to ensure that the world continues to
develop sustainably.

The aim of this document, then, is threefold:

one, to raise the profile of maritime transport and

highlight why maritime transport is a fundamental
element in achieving a more sustainable world;

two, to discuss a concept of a Sustainable Maritime

Transportation System (SMTS); and

three, to identify the various ‘imperatives’ or goals

that must be met to implement an SMTS, and the
activities that will need to be undertaken to achieve
them – possibly requiring actions by the relevant
bodies and the various maritime stakeholders. It
should be borne in mind that the goals are not to