The theme was chosen in order to focus IMO’s efforts during 2013 on the commitments made at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, better known as Rio+20, held from 20 to 22 June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Addressing the IMO Council, meeting for its 108th session in London, Mr. Sekimizu said that IMO had renewed its commitment to sustainable maritime development at Rio+20.
The theme for 2013 had been selected, “to focus our efforts next year on giving true meaning and impetus to the commitments to be made at the Rio+20 Conference,” Mr. Sekimizu said.
Source: www.imo.org IMO News 3/2012, page 33