World Ports Sustainability Program

22 March 2018

Queen Mathilde pronounced the opening speech, in English, at a conference in the harbour of Antwerp.

The Harbour has agreed to sign the UN's World Ports Sustainability Program and thus implement the Sustainable Development Goals.

(...) First of all, on this second anniversary of the attacks in Brussels, I am thinking especially of the many victims of terrorism and their families. Working on sustainable development is also a way of fighting the root causes of terrorism.

(...) Pollution, of all kinds, is a major concern in ports, especially marine pollution and plastics.  And we must all adjust our ways of thinking and our consumption patterns to turn our linear economy into a circular economy. Further digitalization of both port activities and the rest of the port community is another essential goal.

(...) All ports around the world can and should promote sustainable development. 

(...) All over the world there is an increasing will to work together to find solutions to limit climate change, reverse environmental damage, promote economic growth, and improve people’s quality of life.  We cannot afford to be complacent. Real change takes time to accomplish. We must all take action now to implement the SDGs, to safeguard the future of our planet.