WORLD SAILING LEANS TO SUSTAINABILITY
World Sailing’s Sustainability Commission has taken the step to creating a ‘Sustainability Agenda 2030’ following its first meeting in London in August. Chaired by Mike Golding OBE, the group was appointed to the commission in June 2017. The August meeting brought the group together for the first time to discuss issues relating to sustainability within sailing
Discussions and presentations were received on the circular economy, ocean plastics, boat and equipment construction, event logistics, embodied carbon, vessel strikes of marine fauna, accessibility, gender equality and supply chains.
The commission, made up of members with scientific, sporting and sailing backgrounds, discussed where World Sailing, the world governing body of the sport, can make change and influence the industry. Rules changes and phased implementation were highlighted as two feasible areas of influence.
The result of the discussion was to create a ‘Sustainability Agenda 2030’ whereby a vision for key objectives for the sport to be achieved by 2030 were discussed prioritised and documented. The Agenda will be presented to the World Sailing Council for adoption at the World Sailing Annual Conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in November 2017.
Eight objectives to drive the strategy have been set. They include: • Protect and enhance sailing’s waters and the wider water environment • Promote research into the impact of sailing on the environment • Encourage a robust approach to sustainability across the sport
and its supporting affiliated industries Minimise World Sailing’s carbon footprint and promote resource efficiency across the Sport Create a sound economic base for World Sailing and the Sport Provide and promote safe and collaborative working environments Develop diverse and inclusive operations, promoting sailing in an open and accessible way to increase participation Communicate the benefits and importance of sustainability and facilitate stakeholder engagement in the delivery of this strategy. World Sailing is made up of 142 Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world and 114 World Sailing Class Associations.