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DEHUKAM - Sustainable Development Goals
“End poverty in all its forms”.
This goal demands a drastic reduction in poverty. The 2030 Agenda defines poverty as a state in which basic needs cannot be met and access to the material and non-material essentials of a decent life is severely restricted. The first sustainable development goal: No poverty is therefore an unquestionable prerequisite for the achievement of all sustainability goals and, accordingly, for the realization of DEHUKAM’s Sustainable Development Strategy.
Sub-goals include helping poor and vulnerable people to adapt to climate change and ensuring equal access to economic and natural resources for all.
Since all wildlife and economic activities depend on pristine natural resources – clean oceans, clean drinking water, clean air, fertile soil, biodiversity, etc. – there is a direct link between the risk of poverty and environmental conditions. This is clear when looking at global conditions: the livelihoods of families and small communities in poorer regions of the world are often based on forms of self-sufficiency, such as farming. Such economic activities directly depend on healthy ecosystems and a stable climate that ensures the conservation of biodiversity, especially water-related biodiversity. Therefore, DEHUKAM will carry out activities for peace and cooperation, contributing to a healthy environment, stable income and social cohesion worldwide.
“End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”.
The “Zero Hunger” sustainable development goal aims to end hunger in the world and ensure access to nutritious and safe food for all people all year round. Producers’ access to productive resources should be guaranteed. In view of further population growth, productivity and yields are to be ensured through fishing or safe, environmentally friendly marine transport. Fair distribution of marine resources is also part of this.
In light of this goal, DEHUKAM creates effective platforms to ensure the safety, security, and accessibility of maritime trade through many agreements covering shipping and maritime, with the aim of ensuring access to resources. As one of the most cost-effective and fuel-efficient modes of transporting goods, maritime transport is highly preferred for the transportation of resources to end hunger. Under SDG 2, DEHUKAM contributes to this goal by conducting studies on maritime trade to increase access to basic materials, goods and products.
“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”.
Health is a vital part of our lives. If we are healthy, we can go to school, study or work, earn money and organize our free time as we wish. Conversely, stress, work or even poverty and malnutrition can have a negative impact on our well-being. Health is therefore an important factor and is, among other things, a necessary basis for fighting poverty.
In light of this goal, DEHUKAM provides support for maritime health by providing a safe maritime transportation network, preventing pollution and carbon emissions at sea, increasing health financing in developing countries and supporting the health workforce.
“Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning oppurtuniities for all”.
The fourth goal within the SDGs is to commit to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels: early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary, technical and vocational education. All people, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity and disabilities, indigenous peoples, migrants, children and youth, especially those in vulnerable situations, should have access to lifelong learning opportunities that help them acquire the knowledge and skills needed to take advantage of opportunities and participate fully in society.
Many countries face challenges such as inadequate education infrastructure, teacher shortages and insufficient teacher training. While technology has expanded educational opportunities, it has also widened inequalities, leaving millions of people, especially in marginalized and low-income communities, without access to education.
“Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.
Under this goal, efforts are made to prevent harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation. In addition, achieving gender equality in women’s participation in public life and in managerial roles is a key objective. However, at the current rate, according to the statics, it will take 176 years. Many women still lack control over their sexual and reproductive health, and violence against women persists. Urgent action is needed to challenge biased social norms, eliminate harmful practices, and change discriminatory laws. Increasing women’s leadership roles and investments in gender equality are crucial at national, regional, and global levels.
Strong and sustained commitments to change biased social norms are urgently needed to achieve this goal. Enhancing women’s roles in leadership and decision-making and adequately increasing investments in gender equality at national, regional and global scales are top priorities. In line with this goal, DEHUKAM promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment by supporting and sharing high-level technical education for women in the maritime sector, creating an environment where women are identified and selected for career development opportunities in maritime administrations, ports and maritime research institutes.
“Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”.
As billions of people do not enjoy the human right of access to clean water and sanitation, this goal is presented to ensure accessibility and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene still out of reach for billions in 2022. According to the statics, 2.4 billion people live in water-stressed countries, 2.2 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water, 3.5 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation, 2.2 billion people lacked basic hand washing facilities, and %81 of species dependent on inland wetlands have declined since 1970.
DEHUKAM contributes to multiple projects, particularly in the areas of improving water quality, wastewater management and safe reuse, and promoting local participation in water and sanitation management. Within these projects, solutions such as coordinated global action on water management, addressing the impacts of climate change on water resources and better management of shared waters are addressed with DEHUKAM’s contributions.
“Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”.
In 2022, global electricity access declined for the first time in a decade, mainly due to disruptions from COVID-19 and the Ukraine conflict. Despite improvements in energy intensity and renewable energy growth, international financial flows for clean energy in developing countries remain insufficient. At the current rate, 660 million people will still lack electricity by 2030 and 1.8 billion people will not have access to clean cooking.
The maritime sector and the DEHUKAM have an important role to play in realizing SDG 7, particularly on energy efficiency. Through its programs, DEHUKAM highlights the importance of accelerating electrification efforts, increasing investments in renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and establishing supportive policies and regulatory frameworks to ensure universal access to energy by 2030.
Some of DEHUKAM’s projects are related to international regulations governing the transportation of oil and gas by sea and identifying initiatives to promote energy-efficient maritime transport. Promoting the implementation of the various regulations in this context will support this specific SDG.
Energy management is a key tool for energy efficient and environmentally friendly maritime transportation that increases profitability. DEHUKAM will support the development of the field of maritime energy management education and research focusing on low carbon shipping, energy efficiency and renewable ocean energy sources.
“Promoting stable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”.
Concern for seafarers’ welfare is evident in the ongoing work on issues such as fatigue, fair treatment, liability and compensation, which are particularly problematic for seafarers. In light of this objective, various issues related to seafarers’ health care and social security protection are addressed in educational programmes and workshops organized by DEHUKAM.
DEHUKAM’s training in maritime and ocean affairs has a direct impact on the protection and promotion of the rights of seafarers, fishermen and port workers. The ratification and implementation of maritime Conventions such as ILO Conventions and Recommendations, including the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention, are particularly relevant to addressing the gender gap in the maritime, fisheries, ports and ocean sectors and promoting women in the maritime sector, including ensuring equal pay for work of equal value.
Progress towards Goal 8 has been challenged by trade tensions, rising debt in developing countries, conflicts and geopolitical tensions, which collectively threaten global economic growth. Women and youth have faced higher unemployment rates in recent years. Informal employment is a major global challenge, with more than 2 billion workers in informal jobs lacking social protection in 2023.
Slowing this negative progress requires sustainable economic policies, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, formalizing the informal economy, securing workers’ rights, social justice and creating inclusive employment opportunities, especially for women and youth.
“Building resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fıster innovation”.
Technological advances, such as autonomous ships and developments in the port sector, are key to building resilient infrastructure and efficient operation of the transport sector. In line with this objective, DEHUKAM contributes to SDG 9 by providing a platform for capacity building initiatives, establishing legal and regulatory frameworks and exchanging knowledge and experience for Member States.
Investment, growth and development in the maritime and ports sectors is a clear indicator of a country’s current success and planning for more success in the future. Accordingly, DEHUKAM supports the national economy by promoting trade by sea, supporting shipping and defining national shipping lanes; improving port infrastructure and efficiency; managing and protecting fisheries, exploring offshore energy production and even promoting tourism.
“Reducing inequality within and among countries”.
The economies of half of the world’s most vulnerable countries are growing more slowly than those of rich countries. Developing countries are not fairly represented in international economic decision-making processes. Strengthening their voices and participation is vital to ensuring a more inclusive and equitable global economic system.
Addressing inequality both within and between countries requires fair resource distribution, investment in education and skills, social protection measures, anti-discrimination efforts, support for marginalized groups, and international cooperation for fair trade and financial systems.
DEHUKAM contributes to SDG 10 by providing comprehensive technical cooperation assistance to developing countries. DEHUKAM’s activities under this goal include empowering governments that lack the know-how and resources to operate the maritime industry safely and efficiently to comply with relevant international rules and standards.
“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.
Sustainable cities and societies depend on a secure supply chain. Work to improve maritime safety and security under this objective helps to protect national logistics infrastructure.
DEHUKAM helps Member States to improve maritime security by focusing on what the civil maritime industry, covering both the shipping and port sectors, can do to protect themselves and global maritime trade. The emphasis is on preventive security through deterrence, risk management and threat transfer, raising global standards and setting norms for the safety, security and efficiency of ports and coastal State and port authorities.
In addition, inclusive and sustainable efforts to facilitate international maritime traffic, mixed migration by sea, prevention of drug trafficking, cybersecurity and prevention of stowaways are also addressed within the framework of DEHUKAM.
“Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”.
Achieving Goal 12 requires the promotion of circular economy models, sustainable production practices and responsible consumption. These approaches come through the establishment of sound regulatory frameworks, financial incentives and public awareness campaigns to reduce resource and fossil fuel use, foster innovation, save energy and reduce emissions.
The crisis of unsustainable consumption and production patterns worldwide is fueling the ongoing triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature loss and pollution. While countries fulfil their environmental treaty obligations and adopt comprehensive approaches to address environmental degradation, public funding to support the production and consumption of fossil fuels has more than tripled since 2015, hindering the transition to net zero emissions. At DEHUKAM, which aims to achieve SDG 12, we collaborate with relevant institutions to reduce resource and fossil fuel use, promote innovation, save energy, reduce emissions and advocate for a circular economy approach.
Even as hundreds of millions of people face hunger, the world wastes 1.05 billion metric tons of food, with high consumption rates and insufficient reuse or recycling creating huge piles.
“Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”.
Increasing heat waves, droughts and floods caused by climate change are already affecting billions of people worldwide and causing potentially irreversible changes to global ecosystems. As set out in the Paris Agreement, global greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 to limit warming to 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN body responsible for assessing climate change science, they must then decline by 43% by 2030 and fall to net zero by 2050.
In response, countries articulate climate action plans to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts through nationally determined contributions. However, current national commitments are not enough to meet the 1.5° C target. To move from a tipping point towards climate catastrophe to a turning point for a sustainable future, immediate and deep emissions reductions are needed in many sectors, including sectors for marine ecosystems.
Responding to climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and DEHUKAM continues to work to meet this challenge. In this process, DEHUKAM continues to contribute to the global fight against climate change by supporting UN SDG 13 to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
“Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.
Human activities are jeopardizing the planet’s largest ecosystem, the oceans and seas, and affecting the livelihoods of billions of people. Ongoing ocean acidification and rising ocean temperatures threaten marine life and negatively affect marine ecosystem services. Oceans are under increasing stress from multiple sources of pollution that are harmful to marine life and ultimately enter the food chain. Rapidly increasing fish consumption and inadequate public policies to manage the sector have led to the depletion of fish stocks. To combat the decline in ocean health, conservation efforts need to be intensified and solutions for a sustainable blue economy need to be adopted. This includes a “source-to-sea” approach that directly addresses the linkages between land, water, estuarine, delta, coastal, nearshore and ocean ecosystems to support holistic natural resource management and economic development.
While large areas of the ocean are protected, more intensive efforts are needed. In this regard, marine protected areas projects, including DEHUKAM’s work on ecosystem-sensitive mooring techniques and other effective, area-based measures to protect the sea ecosystems and its biodiversity, have increased significantly in recent years.
Since international maritime transportation takes place on the world’s oceans, measures to increase the safety and security of international maritime transportation and to prevent pollution from ships are developed within DEHUKAM and carried out in parallel with SDG 14 targets. At this point, an important part of DEHUKAM’s role is to ensure that shipping continues to contribute to the global economy without disturbing the delicate balance.
“Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”.
SDG 15 underscores the critical importance of biodiversity as humanity’s life support system. However, the fragile balance of our ecosystems is jeopardized by the relentless depletion of forests, alarming rates of species extinction and stagnation in the protection of key biodiversity areas. In addition to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, DEHUKAM is working to address global environmental problems and crises such as desertification, land and soil degradation, drought and deforestation. At the same time, efforts are underway nationally and internationally to address these challenges as countries integrate biodiversity values into their national statics systems.
Addressing environmental problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, desertification and deforestation, and their underlying causes and interconnections, requires a comprehensive and integrated approach with intensified and accelerated efforts at local, national and global levels. Due to the importance of maritime transportation in meeting food and other essential needs, DEHUKAM continues its efforts to create safe maritime navigation. Efforts are also being made to strengthen security at ports and facilitate the detection and prevention of illegal shipments.
“Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”.
We need peace in every sense around the world. But the path to global peace and security has become more complex. Global forced displacement is at an all-time high, exceeding 110 million people forced to flee persecution, conflict, violence and human rights violations. Between 2022 and 2023, civilian casualties experienced their highest increase since the adoption of the “2030 Agenda”. The ongoing threats to human security around the world underscore the collapse of peaceful and inclusive societies vital for sustainable development, and the need to restore trust and strengthen and renew global peace and security frameworks to heed the desperate calls for peace coming from countless voices around the world.
DEHUKAM facilitates the global maritime transport system through a regime of global agreements covering numerous aspects of shipping and maritime transport. Besides that, DEHUKAM collaborates with other maritime law related organizations to ensure the safe, secure and environmentally sound flow of maritime trade globally.
Trainees and staff who benefit from the training and conferences provided by DEHUKAM provide the basic institutional capacity to successfully implement the global regulatory system for international maritime transport.
“Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development”.
Global partnerships for sustainable development cover key areas such as finance, technology, trade and data. There are mixed trends in mobilizing financial resources for development, expanding internet connectivity and strengthening statistical systems. Recently, many developing countries have been struggling to recover from the effects of the pandemic, despite record levels of official development assistance and a strong recovery in global foreign direct investment and remittance flows. With competing priorities and limited fiscal space, many countries are finding economic recovery more difficult than ever.
Towards this development objective, DEHUKAM is engaged in many partnerships with maritime and ocean-related institutions and makes significant contributions to the sustainable development of the maritime community.
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