The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Government of the Seychelles, hosted the Blue Economy Summit, which took place from 19 to 20 January 2014, in Abu Dhabi. Heads of States and Governments and high-level representatives met in the Blue Economy Summit as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week* and in preparation for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States in Apia, Samoa in September 2014, with the participation of civil society.
The topic of the meeting was how to utilise the Blue Economy as a tool to shift sustainable development in small island development states (SIDS) and coastal states in the framework of the Rio+20 consensus.
FAO Director-General Jos? Graziano da Silva told during the summit that “the concept of a “blue economy” that came out of the 2012 Rio+20 Conference will have an important role to play in achieving the post-2015 global sustainable development goals.” The blue economy model emphasizes conservation and sustainable management, based on the premise that healthy ocean ecosystems are more productive and represent the only way to ensure sustainable ocean-based economies. It also aims to ensure that small island developing states and developing world coastal states equitably benefit from their marine resources.
To support a shift to this new approach, FAO is establishing a new Blue Growth Initiative, through which the Organization will assist countries in developing and implementing blue economy and growth agendas.
Mr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD said that ‘‘the concept of the “Blue Economy” serves to complement that of the “Green Economy” by rightly highlighting the environmental challenges facing the world’s oceans, which – after all – account for two thirds of the surface of our blue planet. As crucial providers of food, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and energy, oceans are true global commons, whose degradation would have disastrous consequences for all of mankind.’’
Participants adopted the Abu Dhabi Declaration which in its considering part, recognizes, inter alia, the fundamental importance of the marine environment and its resources to future, inclusive sustainable development, especially in regard to fisheries, tourism, , renewable energy, hydrocarbon and mineral resources, and global trade; it expresses concern about threats to oceans, including acidification, habitat destruction, pollution and unsustainable exploitation; and it underlines that for many States transition to a Blue Economy will entail a fundamental, systemic change in policy, legal and governance frameworks. The Declaration, proclaims that the Blue Economy offers significant applications and benefits by offering a framework to protect and enhance the value of marine and coastal systems through an integrated approach; it stresses the importance of enhanced mechanisms for governance of the high seas; it reaffirms the integral importance of cooperation, both national and international, including civil society organisations; and it urges States, international agencies and donors to develop means to support and facilitate the implementation of the Blue Economy in developing countries.
Note:
*Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is an annual platform to address the interconnected challenges impacting the widespread adoption of renewable energy and the acceleration of sustainable development. The platform included a series of events, such as the fourth general assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency, the seventh World Future Energy Summit, and the second International Water Summit.
Sources: FAO, IISD Reporting Services
For further information:
http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/212685/icode/
http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/blue-economy-summit-adopts-abu-dhabi-declaration/
http://www.sids2014.org/index.php?page=view&type=13&nr=59&menu=1515
http://unctad.org/en/pages/SGStatementDetails.aspx?OriginalVersionID=69
http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/68/pdf/statements/1202014Blue_Economy_Summit_final.pdf
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MEPIELAN Centre
MEPIELAN Centre is an international research, training and educational centre established by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos at the Panteion University of Athens in 2008.
Before its establishment as a University Centre, MEPIELAN operated as a successful international research, training and informational programme (2002-2007) under the scientific direction of Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos and the aegis of the Panteion University of Athens, supported by the Mediterranean Action Plan/UNEP and the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.
MEPIELAN Centre is an accredited UNEP/MAP PARTNER (since 2013), a Member of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) (since 2016), and a Member of the Steering Committee of the MCSD (since 2019).
On 22 May 2022, MEPIELAN Centre proceeded to the development of MEPIELAN as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) for the more effective and efficient advancement of its Goals and Missions and furtherance of its activities. MEPIELAN Centre as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) is registered in Greek Law (Hellenic Business Registry, Reg. No. 16477300100) in accordance with Laws 4072/2012 & 4919/2022 as applicable
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