Sustainable Development Goals Applied to the Maritime Transportation Sector: Setting Sail for the Future

ABSTRACT The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, and promote prosperity through 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Achieving these goals requires a multi‐sectoral approach. Maritime transportation, vital to the global economy, significantly contributes to several SDGs and plays a strategic role in their implementation within the European Union. This research identifies the most relevant SDGs for the sector—particularly SDGs 7, 9, 12, 13, and 14—and explores practical strategies for their integration. Climate action (SDG 13) is a major priority, given the sector's emissions intensity. Modernizing port infrastructure, improving transport efficiency, and investing in sustainable technologies (SDG 9), along with advancing resource efficiency and environmental management (SDG 12), are key measures. SDG 14 reinforces efforts to protect marine ecosystems. Crucially, SDG 7—ensuring access to affordable and clean energy—emerges as a foundational enabler, supporting the achievement of SDGs 9, 12, 13, and 14 and driving the sector's transition toward a low‐carbon and sustainable future. Beyond supporting these objectives, integrating SDGs into the sector brings benefits such as enhanced corporate reputation, cost reduction, financing opportunities, and regulatory compliance, despite persistent challenges such as high initial investments, infrastructure limitations, lack of awareness, and complexity in adopting sustainable practices. This research identifies the most relevant goals for the sector at the EU and explores practical strategies for their adoption, with an emphasis on ocean conservation, energy, and climate action. Overall, aligning maritime transport with the SDGs is essential to building a more resilient, low‐carbon, and sustainable maritime economy.