The Blue Economy covers the productive pillar of the oceans, seas, lakes and rivers including fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, transport, shipbuilding, energy, bio-prospecting, and underwater mining and related activities on the one hand. The sustainability pillar on the other hand includes sustainable exploitation and management, addressing ocean pollution, adverse impacts of climate change, acidification, coastal erosion and loss of biodiversity.
Kenya in collaboration with Canada will be hosting the first ever Global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference (SBEC) from 26th to 28th November. The main theme is the Blue Economy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Amb. B.H.O. Ogutu, Ministry, Foreign Affairs
According to Amb. B.H.O Ogutu, Ministry Foreign Affairs, the Sustainable Blue Economy will benefit Kenya in a number of ways. Firstly, in terms of achievement of agenda 14 in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) come 2030. This SDG aims at sustainably managing and protecting marine life from pollution among other threats.
The SBEC will also be an opportunity for developing countries to understand how they can exploit these resources but in a more sustainable way. He says the Blue Economy involves all economic activities related such as marine transport, ship building and prepares, urban development among many others.
Kenya will also benefit from the developments that the Blue Economy has to offer. According to Am. B.H.O Ogutu, this event will be as inclusive as possible in order to attain prosperity in all we desire. The diaspora will also contribute to global development on matters Blue Economy.
There will also be a side event organized by the African Union Commission in conjunction with the United Nation Economic Commissions for Africa (UNECA) that will focus on the Blue Economy will be honoring two key people that have shown interest in matters Blue Economy will be the president of Seychelles and our own president, Uhuru Kenyatta.
He concludes by saying that the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference will be an opportunity to come up with a summary of the discussions which have taken place, the reports and recommendations which will be emanating from there and lastly, the joint communication which will express the views and the consensus that is coming out.
