Royal Caribbean, WWF Announce Partnership for Ocean Conservation | Cruise News – Jan. 25, 2016

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and World Wildlife Fund Announce Global Partnership to Support Ocean Conservation

Cruise News – Jan. 25, 2016

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have announced a five-year global partnership to help ensure the long-term health of the oceans. The partners will set measurable and achievable sustainability targets that will reduce Royal Caribbean’s environmental footprint, raise awareness about ocean conservation among the company’s more than 5 million guests, and support WWF’s global oceans conservation work.

“Our mantra at Royal Caribbean is ‘Continuous Improvement,’ and this partnership with WWF represents a great opportunity to make a big step forward in meeting our special responsibility to protect the oceans,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “It is also gratifying to see that our determination to make a meaningful difference is shared by our employees and our guests. This new partnership aligns all of us at RCL with WWF’s mission to conserve the world’s oceans. Together we are setting aggressive goals and together we will start implementing them right away.”

Royal Caribbean Cruises and WWF jointly developed new 2020 environmental sustainability targets for the company that includes carbon emissions and sustainable seafood. In addition, Royal Caribbean and WWF have agreed to develop and announce new targets by June 30 that will address destination stewardship. As part of this, WWF and RCL will collaborate to strengthen RCL’s destination sustainability assessment and selection process.

Royal Caribbean also will financially support WWF’s global ocean conservation work through a $5 million philanthropic contribution during the partnership, and will collaborate with WWF to build global awareness about ocean conservation issues among its millions of passengers.

The organizations made their announcement at an event in Donsol, Sorsogon, Philippines that is home to a model community-based ecotourism program. At the event, RCL also made a separate, $200,000 donation to WWF Philippines in support of conservation programs in the Donsol area.

“The threats that are facing the ocean are greater than ever — in the last 30 years, some ocean wildlife populations have declined by nearly 50 percent. If we are going to reverse the downward trends, we must take serious steps to repair, restore, and protect the oceans,” said Carter Roberts, WWF-US president and CEO. “This initiative centers on two core concepts: first, committing to specific and measurable targets to reduce carbon emissions, increase sustainable sourcing, and build destination stewardship; and second, comprehensively engaging their millions of travelers to learn about the ocean and then act to help save it.”

For more information about the Royal Caribbean and WWF partnership, visit: www.rclcorporate.com/community.

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