Resources in oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers – also known as the blue economy – if sustainably exploited could contribute up to $ 1.5 trillion to the global economy.
In November 2018, experts, government officials, environmentalists, policy makers, and academics converged in Nairobi, Kenya, for the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference. With the theme Blue Economy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the conference looked at new technologies and innovations for oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers as well as challenges, potential opportunities and partnerships.
According to Cyrus Rustomjee, a blue economy expert and a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, Africa has 38 coastal and island states and a coastline of over 47,000 km. This presents an enormous opportunity for the continent to develop the sectors typically associated with the blue economy.
To reduce African poverty and enhance food and energy security, employment, economic growth and exports, ocean health and sustainable use of ocean resources, there is a need to expand fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, transportation, and maritime and inland ports.
He notes that more than 12 million people are employed in fisheries alone, the largest of the African blue economy sectors, providing food security and nutrition for over 200 million Africans and generating value-added estimated at more than $24 billion, or 1.26% of the GDP of all African countries.
Of concern at the Nairobi conference was the current wanton and large-scale exploitation of the world’s waters, especially in developing countries.
President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya expressed concern over the “massive pollution of our water bodies; the evident overexploitation of water resources and their related biodiversity as well as the specific challenge of insecurity, more so in the high seas.”
Pre-conference advocacy by Kenya, Canada and Japan, the main organizers of the event focused on many issues central to Africa’s development, including food security for vulnerable groups and communities, malnutrition, sustainable food production and gender equality in blue economy industries.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Monica Juma said the discussions were dedicated to realizing the untapped potential found in our seas, oceans, lakes, and rivers and focused on integrating economic development, social inclusion and sustainability which promotes a blue economy that is prosperous, inclusive and sustainable.
While emphasizing the importance of unlocking the full productive potential of Africa’s waters, Ms. Juma said she especially hoped to see increased participation of women and youth in all areas of the blue economy.
A recurring theme at the conference was that the blue economy could boost a country’s economic growth and environmental protection and, by extension, help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
According to Macharia Kamau, the Principal Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the conference presented immense opportunities for the growth of our economy, especially sectors as fisheries, tourism, maritime transport, offshore mining, among others in a way that the land economy has failed to do.
The strategic importance of the blue economy to trade is clear, notes the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping. For instance, up to 90% of global trade facilitation by volume and 70% by value is carried out by the sea.
One challenge is that the oceans and seas absorb about 25% of the extra carbon dioxide emissions added to the earth’s atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels. Oil and gas remain major sources of energy, with approximately 30% of production carried out offshore.
Before the event in Kenya, the organizers highlighted current challenges within the blue economy, including a lack of shared prosperity, maritime insecurity and unsustainable human activities around and in oceans, seas, lakes and rivers, including overfishing.
Other challenges are pollution, invasive species and ocean acidification, which lead to biodiversity loss and compromise human health and food security. the, a weak legal, policy, regulatory and institutional framework and poorly planned and unregulated coastal development exacerbate existing challenges.
To address these problems, participants called on leaders and policymakers to implement appropriate policies and allocate significant capital to sustainable investment in the sector to boost production, inclusiveness, and sustainability.
The Nairobi conference drew global attention to the blue economy; the challenge is ensuring concrete actions follow the vigorous discussion.
