“As co-owner of the Volvo Ocean Race, the Volvo Group is aiming to deliver a world-class sailing competition and provide a platform to discuss important business issues, including sustainability” says Bill Law, member of the Volvo Ocean Race Board. “Most people are interested in one sport or another and competitive sport events get a big audience. The Volvo Ocean Race is a powerful tool to touch millions of people around the planet and inspire them to change behavior towards plastic that largely ends up in the oceans”.
Watch the video Big shout from the oceans!
At the summit Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment, explained: “Our oceans are fundamental to our survival so we must do everything we can to protect them.”
Paulo Mirpuri, Founder of the Mirpuri Foundation commented: “Besides being a sport competition, the Volvo Ocean Race attracts a lot of people and attention on to the sustainability problem. It allows us to communicate our message to millions of people around the world”.
“Sailors witness that plastic is everywhere in the seas far out away from our shores. And that’s only the visible part of the problem. Plastic breaks down into smaller pieces and now it's in the fish, the birds and in us humans, too. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, the oceans are our life support system and we can contribute each in our own way. We aim to spread the message and inspire citizens, business and government to bring about a change together” concludes Bill Law.
Environmental care is at the heart of what Volvo stands for and Ocean Summits puts the light on the future of our oceans. In addition to this, 2017 Volvo Group Environmental Prize was awarded to Professor Rashid Sumaila, one of the world´s most innovative researchers into the future of the oceans and marine life.
Read more about upcoming Ocean Summits here
We support the UN Development Goals, read more about it here
Read more about Volvo Ocean Race and sustainability here