Environmentally-sustainable practices in the maritime industry are critical to driving the global agenda on sustainability, said industry experts ahead of a major maritime industry event in Abu Dhabi.

The second edition of the World Ports and Trade Summit (WPTS) 2012 will be held in Abu Dhabi from April 2-4.

Jointly organised by Turret Media and Seatrade, the event is being held under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
 
The World Ports and Trade Summit (WPTS) will see the attendance of several industry leaders driving this change participate in a series of debates and panel discussions, including the regional agenda for “sustainable maritime development.”

"Sustainable maritime practices are central to the debate on global sustainable development," remarked Jonathon Porritt, founder director, Forum for the Future, a leading UK-based charity that works with public and private sector entities to adopt and accelerate change to sustainable ways of business.

"The vast majority of global trade is today carried out using ships that carry fuel, raw materials and finished goods between continents," he noted.

"The official CO2 figures for 2010 tell us that overall emissions increased by six per cent, at a time when half the world’s economies were flat-lining in terms of economic growth."

"With unpredictable fuel price spikes, changing customer demands, many in the shipping industry are starting to recognize that sustainability goes hand in hand with commercial success," he added.

Porritt, who is one of the keynote speakers at WPTS 2012, said, "Traditionally, improvements in the environmental performance of shipping have been driven largely by regulatory responses to high profile incidents. However, in recent years the industry has started to take a more proactive stance."

The Northern European shipping, he said, had previously led the way in sustainable shipping, "but again, this is changing."

"Over the last few years, we’re seeing Asia start to take up the banner of sustainability, as major shipping companies, ship builders, and countries such as China taking an active interest in the commercial opportunities arising from building and operating cleaner, more efficient fleets," he added.

Porritt said the summit could be a great platform to support sustainable maritime practices, especially in the region, by bringing together representatives from companies and organizations in big economic sectors and those who directly impact the business of shipping.-TradeArabia News Service