The North Sea faces major societal challenges. The energy transition, nature restoration, safe shipping, and climate adaptation require smart decisions and a careful balance between economic development and ecological interests. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide an international framework for addressing these challenges. These seventeen sustainability goals help governments, businesses, and knowledge institutions work together towards a sustainable and future-proof world.
The SDGs also play an important role in the digitalisation of the North Sea. By leveraging data, digital infrastructure, and innovative technologies, sustainable developments can be better supported, monitored, and managed.
Study: The Contribution of Information at Sea to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
To gain insight into the relationship between digital transformation and sustainability, a study was conducted in 2025 to examine how Rijkswaterstaat’s Information at Sea Program contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals. The study found that the program makes a clear contribution to six of the seventeen SDGs: Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Climate Action (SDG 13), Life Below Water (SDG 14), Life on Land (SDG 15), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). The research shows that data collection, monitoring, digital connectivity, and collaboration in the North Sea are not only essential for carrying out public responsibilities, but also contribute to a more sustainable and better-managed North Sea. At the same time, the study highlights the importance of addressing potential negative impacts, such as material use, maintenance activities, and the effects of infrastructure on nature and biodiversity.
These findings underline that digital transformation is not an end in itself, but an important means of achieving societal and sustainability objectives. The experiences gained through the study therefore provide a valuable foundation for the further development of the Digital North Sea. The overview below presents the key findings, accompanied by an illustration that demonstrates the contribution of Information at Sea.
Image: Suzanne de Veld
The Information at Sea Program contributes to the development of sustainable energy in the North Sea through data, sensors, and collaboration.
SDG 7 focuses on promoting renewable energy and improving energy efficiency to reduce energy consumption and dependence on fossil fuels. This is achieved through three main areas: expanding the use of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and strengthening international cooperation.
Digital transformation plays an important role in making the North Sea’s energy supply more sustainable. The Information at Sea Program provides the data needed for the development of offshore wind farms, grid connections, and innovative forms of sustainable energy generation. In addition, smart sensors, efficient data collection, and real-time information help reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.
By sharing knowledge and data at both national and international levels, Information at Sea also supports the further development of clean energy technologies and strengthens collaboration within the energy transition.
Image: Suzanne de Veld
Information at Sea strengthens innovation and infrastructure in the North Sea by connecting data, knowledge, and technology within an open digital ecosystem.
SDG 9 focuses on developing sustainable infrastructure, fostering innovation, and strengthening technological advancement. The goal is to enable economic development by investing in reliable infrastructure, research, digital transformation, and innovative solutions that address societal challenges.
The Information at Sea Program makes an important contribution to SDG 9 through the development of a digital infrastructure for the North Sea. Through sensors, data platforms, communication networks, and standardised data exchange, information is made available to government authorities, knowledge institutions, and private-sector stakeholders.
This digital foundation supports innovation, more efficient management of the North Sea, and the development of new applications in areas such as maritime transport, energy, safety, and ecology. In addition, the programme encourages collaboration between different organisations, accelerating knowledge sharing and technological innovation.
As a result, Information at Sea contributes to a smart, resilient, and future-proof North Sea.
Image: Suzanne de Veld
Through data, monitoring, and smart technologies, Information at Sea supports the knowledge and actions needed to build a climate-resilient North Sea.
SDG 13 focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Key priorities include strengthening resilience to climate-related risks, improving knowledge and monitoring, and supporting climate action through collaboration and innovation.
Digital transformation plays an important role in understanding and addressing climate change in the North Sea. The Information at Sea Program collects and makes available data on weather, water, ecology, and human activities in the North Sea. This information supports climate research, the monitoring of changes in the marine ecosystem, and the development of measures to build a climate-resilient North Sea.
By deploying sensors, data platforms, and digital infrastructure, the programme provides deeper insight into the impacts of climate change. This enables governments, researchers, and other stakeholders to make faster and better-informed decisions. In addition, Information at Sea promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing, ensuring that insights into climate developments are more widely available and can be applied more effectively.
Image: Suzanne de Veld
Information at Sea collects and processes data on water quality, currents, water temperature, and biodiversity to provide insights into the health of the North Sea.
SDG 14 focuses on conserving and sustainably using seas and oceans. Key priorities include protecting biodiversity, preventing pollution, sustainably managing marine ecosystems, and strengthening knowledge of marine life.
Digital transformation makes an important contribution to the protection and sustainable management of the North Sea. The Information at Sea Program collects and shares data on water quality, biodiversity, ecology, and human activities at sea. Through sensors, monitoring networks, and data platforms, the programme provides deeper insight into the condition of the marine ecosystem and the impacts of activities such as shipping, fisheries, and energy production.
This information supports policymaking, permitting processes, environmental monitoring, and scientific research. By making reliable data available to government authorities, researchers, and other stakeholders, Information at Sea contributes to a healthy and future-proof North Sea.
Image: Suzanne de Veld
Through innovative monitoring technologies, Information at Sea collects ecological data that support research, nature conservation, and the protection of biodiversity
SDG 15 focuses on protecting, restoring, and sustainably using ecosystems and biodiversity. The goal is to conserve natural habitats and the species that depend on them, prevent ecosystem degradation, and expand knowledge of biodiversity.
The Information at Sea Program contributes to SDG 15 by collecting data on species that use the North Sea and coastal areas. Technologies such as bird radar systems, bat acoustic monitoring devices, and the MOTUS tracking network are used to monitor animal movements and migration patterns.
These ecological data support biodiversity research and help protect vulnerable species. The insights generated are used, among other things, to better understand the impacts of offshore wind farms on nature and to implement mitigation measures, such as temporarily shutting down wind turbines during peak bird migration periods.
In this way, Information at Sea contributes to knowledge-driven nature management and the conservation of biodiversity.
Image: Suzanne de Veld
Information at Sea connects data, knowledge, and organisations to enable better-informed, collaborative decision-making for the North Sea.
SDG 17 focuses on strengthening collaboration between governments, knowledge institutions, businesses, and civil society organisations. The goal is to bring together knowledge, technology, data, and resources to enable sustainable development and address societal challenges collectively.
The Information at Sea Program contributes to SDG 17 by connecting data, knowledge, and organisations. Through a shared digital infrastructure, sensor data are collected, processed, and made available to a wide range of users. Open data, collaboration, and innovative technologies such as machine learning make it possible to transform information into valuable insights for decision-making and monitoring.
By bringing together public authorities, research institutions, and private-sector organisations, Information at Sea promotes a collaborative approach to addressing challenges in the North Sea and creates a strong foundation for long-term, sustainable partnerships.
International recognition
The contribution of the Information at Sea Program to sustainable development extends beyond the Netherlands. The program has been featured by the United Nations on the SDG Partnerships Platform as an example of an initiative that uses digital infrastructure and real-time maritime data to support a safe, sustainable, and efficient North Sea.
By collecting and making available data from sensors, radar systems, and monitoring networks, Information at Sea supports, among other things, the offshore energy transition, maritime safety, and the protection of marine ecosystems. In doing so, the programme makes a demonstrable contribution to multiple Sustainable Development Goals.