Saudi Arabia Participates in GloNoise Workshop at World Maritime University, showcasing Commitment to Marine Conservation

During the recent IMO-WMU workshop in Malmö on 15-16 October, which was attended and funded by Saudi Arabia, representatives gathered to explore strategies and innovations to reduce underwater radiated noise (URN), particularly in regard to addressing the needs of developing countries. Saudi Arabia’s active role in the GloNoise Project, aimed at URN mitigation, underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing marine conservation and fostering global partnerships.

GloNoise, an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) project which is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to address the escalating impact of shipping noise on marine ecosystems. Funded by various stakeholders – including Saudi Arabia, which has pledged $54,500 per project for GloNoise – this initiative aims to build global capacity, awareness and policy frameworks. Saudi Arabia’s financial support and strategic partnership in these projects underscore its dedication to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14, (which focuses on conserving marine resources) and SDG 17(which is designed to encourage global partnerships for working towards the UN’s SDGs).

The Malmö workshop featured multiple sessions led by international experts; topics included URN’s effects on marine life and coastal communities, policy frameworks for URN reduction and scalable mitigation solutions. Highlighting the impact on marine species’ communication and stress levels, discussions addressed the urgency of advancing technologies to lessen shipping noise and implementing standardised guidelines, such as the IMO's 2023 Revised Guidelines.

Saudi Arabia’s involvement in environmental projects such as GloNoise reinforces its role as a bridge between developing and developed nations in the fight against marine degradation. Under Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, the Kingdom is actively working to protect marine biodiversity as outlined in their commitment to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. Ongoing research at the King Abudalziz University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Red Sea Global is helping to address the issue of underwater noise pollution and means the Kingdom will be at the forefront of developments in this area.

Through participation in IMO’s environmental initiatives and its support for the GloNoise project, Saudi Arabia is helping empower developing countries to engage in conservation efforts, particularly in marine noise mitigation. This support enables local and regional stakeholders to collaborate effectively in reducing URN, thus benefiting both global and coastal marine life.

The sucess of the GloNoise Partnership in helping to establish a sustainable, multi-party framework for addressing underwater noise pollution can be seen in the work of this successful workshop. Saudi Arabia’s participation and funding therefore supports the creation of a future where economic growth and environmental stewardship align.