WMU’s contribution to the UN SDG 2030

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at a historic UN Summit. They came into force on 1 January 2016 and are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the plant and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The 17 interconnected Goals and related Targets promote partnerships and guide the choices made today to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

WMU is well positioned to deliver tangible contributions to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The University was founded in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, and our mission is to be the world centre of excellence in postgraduate maritime and oceans education, professional training and research, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development.

WMU’s strategic goals, as outlined in the WMU Strategic Plan 2016-2019 and its current Business Plan 2016-2017, are fully aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The plans focus on the delivery of outcomes in the areas of:

• recognized excellence in maritime policy education and training;
• recognized research and teachings on maritime and ocean matters; and
• strengthened collaboration with the IMO and other UN bodies.

The University is continually focused on supporting IMO member States and maritime industry stakeholders in the implementation of the UN SDGs, in particular, the goals that are of direct relevance to the maritime and ocean agendas.

Through its well-established education, capacity building and research agenda and recognizing that all the goals are interrelated and indivisible, WMU will contribute directly and tangibly to the implementation of the following Global Goals:

	Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Since 1983, WMU has contributed to postgraduate education and professional development opportunities for individuals around the globe, in particular from developing countries including small island developing countries, and that ongoing effort will continue.
	Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Through education, WMU will contribute to the elimination of discrimination against women and further the equality and empowerment of women and ensure their full and effective participation with equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
	Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all WMU will support achieving a sustainable and energy efficient maritime and ocean industry through maritime and ocean energy management as well as alternative forms of marine and ocean energy to provide affordable, reliable and sustainable modern energy for all.
	Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Through education and research, WMU will support the upgrading of infrastructure such as ships, ports and retrofit industries as well as other components of the transport supply chain, to make them sustainable and more efficient through the adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
	Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts By educating the future leaders who will integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning, WMU will specifically support the targets related to improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
	Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development WMU will continue to support international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources. Further, the University has integrated ocean-related matters across all of its programmes with education focused on the reduction of marine pollution, sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems, minimizing ocean acidification, regulating harvesting and ending overfishing, conserving coastal and marine areas, increasing scientific knowledge through research capacity and transfer marine technology.
	Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies WMU is committed to the promotion of just, peaceful and inclusive societies. With graduates from 166 countries, WMU offers its highly diverse student body a place where they can live, study and learn from each other in peace and harmony.
	Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development WMU will support the targets focused on capacity-building and trade aimed at significantly increasing the exports by developing countries.