As announced by the United Nations Global Compact at the UN Ocean Conference held at the end of June in Lisbon, Portugal, MSC is pleased to join over 150 stakeholders in signing on to the UN Global Compact Sustainable Ocean Principles.
Building on and supplementing the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact on human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption – which MSC has long supported and embedded across its operations – the Sustainable Ocean Principles provide a framework for responsible business practices across ocean sectors and geographies covering ocean health and productivity, governance and engagement and data and transparency.
The world depends on a healthy, productive, and resilient ocean for food security, climate mitigation and economic livelihoods. Climate change, overfishing, pollution, and unsustainable and inequitable development are damaging the health of the ocean and seas.
MSC believes that the health of the oceans is vital to its own continued success. The sea is the lifeblood of global trade, and so in turn, as the world’s largest container line, it is serious about its efforts to protect oceans and to conduct global shipping in a safe and reliable way.
MSC also agrees with the UN that collective action is the key to a future with healthy, thriving oceans. The maritime industry plays a key role in gaining a clear understanding of the environment in which companies operate and their impact on it. As well as the theme of this year’s World Oceans Day being Collective Action for the Ocean, the UN has also declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Ocean Science.
A Collaborative Approach to Healthy Oceans
As a world leader engaged in the shipping and logistics sector, MSC recognises the collective responsibility of companies to assess their impact on the ocean, protect ocean health and take action on ocean sustainability, which for the company is both a strategic imperative and a key business priority.
“Oceans play a vital role in the health of our blue planet, producing half of the world’s oxygen as well as regulating our climate. By signing the Sustainable Ocean Principles, we are joining with other blue economy companies to help build a sustainable blue economy,” noted Stefania Lallai, Vice President Sustainability of MSC's Cargo Division.
As a member of the UNGC Ocean Stewardship Coalition and the Maritime Just Transition Task Force, MSC believes in working with a variety of partners to make an impact beyond its own operations. These collaborative platforms form part of MSC’s Sustainability Roadmap in response to the rapidly evolving landscape and its efforts to address the complex set of global challenges the world faces today, leveraging strategic alliances across the maritime ecosystem to protect and restore the health of oceans.
