The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) GloBallast Programme has been shortlisted as a finalist in the environment category of Lloyds List Global Awards.
The GloBallast programme assists developing countries in reducing the risk of aquatic bio-invasions from ships’ ballast water and sediments. The project aims to expand government and port management capacities, instigate legal, policy and institutional reforms at national level, develop mechanisms for sustainability, and drive regional coordination and cooperation.
Global efforts in technology development for solutions, knowledge management enhancement and information exchange to support marine biosecurity initiatives are also driven by the GloBallast programme.
To date, the efforts of GloBallast have been present in more than 70 countries to support national and reginal capacity in order to implement the Ballast Water Management Convention that is only 0.13% away from obtaining the required ratifications for entry into force.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF)-United Nations Development Program (UNDP) IMO GloBallast Partnerships Programme, which has been working since 2008, has also established the Global Industry Alliance for Marine Biosecurity to catalyse and promote new technological solutions to the ballast water problem; raised awareness through video and other materials; organized six international R&D Fora; and facilitated training through practical workshops and online modules.
To-date the GloBallast programme has won an array of international awards, including the Portfolio Solution Award at the 8th International Waters Conference (IWC8) organised by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which was given for the project with the best strategy for scaling-up investments aimed at addressing global environmental issues facing international waters, including the oceans.
The winners of the Lloyd’s List Global Awards will be announced in November, 2016.
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