Project Overview

NEWS UPDATE: On 26 April, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) launched a series of practical, collaborative action plans at Singapore Maritime Week - part of the SSI’s work to create a more sustainable shipping industry by 2040. To find out more click here. 

The SSI is a four-stage initiative designed to help the industry make long-term plans for future success. Its members are leading companies from around the world and NGOs Forum for the Future and WWF. The cross-industry group represents ship owners and charterers, shipbuilders, engineers and service providers, banking, insurance, and classification societies. Find out more here.

In the first stage members launched a Case for Action in May 2011. It analyses the social, environmental and economic challenges shipping faces and how best to react to them, and it calls on the industry to take far-reaching action.

On 31st October 2011, we launched our Vision 2040 statement – a shared vision of an industry in 2040 which is resilient, socially and environmentally responsible and profitable. In April 2012, we've started work on our first set of practical work streams, through which we will begin to make Vision 2040 a reality. For more about the project stages click here.

Download the Case for Action here and the Vision 2040 statement here.

“Our goal is to transform the global shipping industry and the wider maritime sector, establishing a new, sustainable approach as the norm.” – Case for Action

The impact of shipping

Shipping affects the lives of billions of people, with 90% of the world’s international trade travelling by sea. The industry accounts for three to four percent of global CO2 emissions and there is growing scrutiny of its wider social and environmental impacts.

The industry now faces a range of social and environmental challenges, such as rising and volatile fuel prices, shifting markets and patterns of trade,and changing governance structures, which are explored in the Case for Action.

Many key players in the industry are aware of these factors, but, unlike the aviation and auto sectors, have not yet acted decisively to prepare shipping for this new world. Shipping has a compelling case as the most energy-efficient freight service, but any return to growth will be unsustainable if the industry does not innovate to cut costs and reduce its environmental impacts.

The Sustainable Shipping Initiative is designed to help the industry make long-term plans for future success. An industry with long-lived assets needs long-term thinking, and the SSI aims to help members think beyond the next regulation or design tweak.

Keep in touch

 If you want to find out more or get involved in the Initiative contact Sam Kimmins, +44 (0)20 7324 3675, ssi@forumforthefuture.org

To stay up to date with the latest SSI news follow us on twitter @sustshipping or send an email to ssi@forumforthefuture.org to be added to our mailing list.

To view photos from our events visit the SSI flickr album.