As part of my role as Senior Strategic Expert in Blue Economy at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) it was great to be at the Expert Group Meeting in Vienna.
The meeting focused on how UNIDO can advance the contribution of Blue Industry (a term coined by UNIDO) to the Blue Economy agenda. I presented findings from the discussion paper I wrote, “Blueprint for Sustainable Development: The Blue Industry Contribution to the Blue Economy Agenda”. There were many insightful discussions about Blue Industry, including trade opportunities, private-sector capacity-building, mobilizing innovative finance, community engagement, livelihoods and employment, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, cross-sectoral linkages, decarbonization and ocean energy, maritime transport, regional insights, and global governance and policy coherence.
Great to catch up with the UNIDO Blue Industry Task Force (Alejandro Rivera Rojas, Rebeca Gallardo Gmez, Yasmin Langendoerfer Atun and Mikaela Arnstein) and Blue Economy experts from around the world.
Key insights include:
🌊 There is growing recognition that the advancement of the Blue Economy can be a major driver of sustainable development, including the SDGs.
🌊 Despite the huge potential of Blue Industries, the current development of such industries has not been sustainable and inclusive in many countries and regions. Economic barriers include market access, investment gaps, and infrastructure. Social issues involve job creation, livelihoods, and gender inclusion. Environmental concerns include pollution, climate change, and unsustainable practices.
🌊 Blue Industry can have a positive impact on sustainable development in at least four ways. First, it can chart a course for sustainable livelihoods and shared prosperity. Second, it can regenerate aquatic ecosystems and combat climate change. Third, it can nourish the world responsibly. And fourth, it can harness innovation and blue technologies.
🌊 Investments in sustainable Blue industrial transformation need to be large-scale, targeted and coordinated between the public and private sectors.
🌊 UNIDOs technical expertise and mandate at large (particularly within the UN system) are well-aligned with the challenges that need to be addressed to harness the full potential of the Blue Economy.
🌊 UNIDO has a portfolio of proven methodologies and approaches that have been demonstrated by numerous Blue Industry projects in areas such as agenda-setting, good governance, cross-sectoral linkages, trade opportunities, blue food, blue innovation, circularity, ocean-based energy, private-sector capacity-building and innovative finance.
More on the Expert Group Meeting can be found here.
The discussion paper can be accessed here.