Beyond Climate Change: A Model of Sustainable Development for the Maritime Industry

Recent discussions on sustainable development in the maritime industry have focused on climate change, emissions reduction, and future fuels. While vital for global trade and climate management, these topics are only part of the broader sustainable development agenda. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) highlight the need to expand this conversation.
Through a series of interviews, this study aims to develop a sustainable development model tailored to the maritime industry. Defining the maritime industry, and contextualising sustainable development to the sector provides significant challenges. The industry’s diversity complicates any definition as it encompasses shipping, maritime services, shipbuilding, education, equipment manufacture, offshore supply, recreational boating, fisheries, coastal tourism, marine mining, and offshore energy.
The results show a model that can be applied to the industry in order to address key sustainable development challenges. Key areas that can be incorporated into business strategy have been identified and explained.