How Shipping Can Guarantee Sustainable Economic Growth, By NIMASA Boss
By Abimbola Abdullah
The shipping industry is working together to ensure a continued and strengthened emission reduction scheme to facilitate a green economy and growth in a sustainable manner, the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola has said.
Mobereola, who disclosed this at the third national conference of Oriental News Nigeria, held in Lagos, said there was need for all stakeholders in the economy to work together in reducing carbon emission.
Represented by the Director, Marine Environment Management Department, Heaky Dimowo, said the world is currently grappling with two major but connected natural challenges- global warming and climate change.
He said climate change is a great threat to human existence and the sustenance of the global economy.
“It has consequences on human lives, as every year, exposure to air pollution is estimated to contribute to 7 million premature deaths and climate change is also projected to push more than 100 million additional persons into poverty by 2030.
“Drastic actions are therefore required to reduce the effects on both the sustainability of the environment and humanity.
“All activities that result in GHG emissions therefore need to be minimized as much as possible to lessen the impacts on global warming and climate change, and to achieve sustainable growth and development in all sectors of our economy,” he stated.
He said with the increased awareness of the opportunities the seas and oceans offer, the consciousness of the need to promote safer oceans in a sustainable manner becomes paramount.
According to him, a green economy should therefore be low-carbon, resource-efficient, and socially inclusive, offering growth in the economy driven by public and private investment in such economic activities, infrastructure, and assets.
The aim being to ensure reduced carbon emissions and pollution, enhanced energy and resource efficiency, and prevention of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem balance amongst others.
He said shipping is therefore an essential component of any programme for future sustainable economic growth.
“Energy efficiency, new technology and innovation, maritime education and training, maritime security, maritime traffic management, and the development of sustainable maritime infrastructure underpin IMO’s and by extension Nigeria’s maritime sectors commitment to provide the institutional framework necessary for a green and sustainable global maritime transportation system.
“In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG)13 &14, IMO on the 15th of July, 2015 adopted the first set of international mandatory measures to improve ships’ energy efficiency.
“Since then, the organization has taken additional action including further regulatory measures, the adoption of the Initial IMO GHG strategy in 2018, and, in 2023, the revised Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships was unanimously adopted.
“The maritime sector working with NIMASA is therefore developing a number of measures to ensure that the country transits into and sustains a green economy that places economic development, sustainability, and environmental preservation at the core of strategies to develop the macro economy for a bigger and greater Nigeria,” he said.
Mobereola therefore called for collective commitment in the quest for a sustainable environment to save the world.
