On Friday (4 May), United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited the Headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for ship safety, maritime security and prevention of pollution from ships. IMO says he was welcomed by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim.
Addressing representatives of IMO Member States and IMO staff, Mr. Guterres highlighted the important contribution of IMO’s work towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He welcomed, in particular, the recent adoption by IMO of an Initial Strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, as a major step forward in global action to combat climate change.
Mr. Guterres also congratulated IMO on its 70th anniversary which is being marked this year, since the 1948 adoption of the Convention establishing IMO, with a mandate to ensure safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans.