ACG 150

Dr. Stella Apostolaki, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Executive Director of the Center of Excellence in Sustainability, and Dr. George Kokosalakis, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Shipping Management, Executive Director of the Center of Excellence in Logistics, Shipping, and Transportation co-organized a session at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development – SDG Learning and Training 2022 on Protecting our Ocean: SDG 14 and its Interlinkages, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Presentation title: Maritime Industry vs Marine Ecosystems: A love-hate relationship.

The presentation and discussion on Maritime Industry vs Marine Ecosystems: A love-hate relationship discussed the effect of the maritime industry and other human activities on marine ecosystems. Topics included the challenges and barriers relevant to the decarbonization of the maritime industry, as well as methods to minimize, monitor, and control oil contamination and air pollution from ships; minimization of sea-water pollution deriving from other human activities, including plastic and microplastic pollution as well as the long-term impacts of climate change and overfishing. The negative environmental effect of the covid-19 pandemic was also examined as expressed in increased pollution and disruption of the global supply chains.