About this Discussion

Oceans cover three-quarters of the globe, and a staggering 80% of all life on Earth is found hidden beneath their waves. They also represent an enormous economic opportunity, which is why the “blue economy” is driven by a combination of growing ocean-based industries and jobs as well as concerns about growing pressures on dwindling marine resources and response to climate change.

While traditional maritime industries such shipping, ports, offshore oil and gas, capture fisheries, maritime and coastal tourism continue to innovate, emerging ocean industries are gaining traction. These industries include offshore wind, tidal and wave energy, seabed mining, marine aquaculture and biotechnology. 

However, the predicted growth of the blue economy must not come at the expense of marine ecosystems and biodiversity. As such, a dramatic shift is necessary in how the world develops the ocean’s potentials so as not to compromise the marine resource base on which they rely. A healthy ocean will have more than just economic benefits. It will improve health and well-being, and enhance the resilience of the planet to support a long-term future.

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Blue Economy

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The global conservation community has taken a big step toward embracing behavioral approaches to conservation challenges! Last week, IUCN members overwhelmingly adopted Rare's (rare.org/) co-sponsored motion before the #IUCNCongress to “address conservation as a behavioral challenge." The motion paves the way for practitioners to incorporate behavior-centered design (BCD) into their programs.

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https://behavior.rare.org/world-leaders-move-toward-behavioral-solutions-to-conservation-challenges/
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Members of the International Coral Reef Initiative have agreed on the steps we must take, including to develop and use better tools, or indicators, to measure progress. Now governments have to act.

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https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-can-save-earths-coral-reefs/
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The EC Council just adopted new conclusions for the EU biodiversity strategy, which includes "creating a coherent network of well-managed protected areas... to protect at least 30% of the EU’s sea area"!

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https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/10/23/council-adopts-conclusions-on-the...

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Samoan government pledges to manage 100% and protect 30% of its ocean area. Listen to the podcast and watch the video about this important new strategy. Read the full strategy here: https://www.mnre.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Samoa-Ocean-Strategy…

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https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/oceans-samoa/12784942
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b6VTFPiQyA&feature=emb_logo

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New WEF blog by Ghislaine Llewellyn at WWF on how building with nature can lead a green recovery for our coasts. Mangrove forests are the best-documented example of natural or green infrastructure. Recent estimates of their economic value for flood risk reduction exceed $65 billion a year.

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https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/11/green-recovery-coastal-climate-change/

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Marine litter is a global problem that affects every ocean of the world. Enrol in this free online course on marine litter, available in 10 different languages, from UNEP, the Global Partnership on Marine Litter and Open Universiteit.

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https://www.ou.nl/en/-/unenvironment-mooc-marine-litter?fbclid=IwAR026enzcf8GsfoTuMXEjga6uhDy4LU8pqb...