Mon, Jan 23, 2012 -
Ecological health and economic productivity
of marine and coastal ecosystems, which
are currently in decline around the globe,
can be boosted by shifting to a more sustainable
economic paradigm that taps their natural
potential
The Green Economy in a Blue World report
will cover six marine-based sectors, including
fisheries. UN Photo/Martine Perret
Report Spotlights Opportunities
for Green Jobs and Growth in Tourism, Transport,
Energy and Other Areas
UNEP Green Economy InitiativeManila/Nairobi,
25 January 2012 - Healthy seas and coasts
would pay healthy dividends in a green economy,
according to a report released by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and
partners that highlights the huge potential
for economic growth and poverty eradication
from well-managed marine sectors.
The report, Green Economy
in a Blue World, argues that the ecological
health and economic productivity of marine
and coastal ecosystems, which are currently
in decline around the globe, can be boosted
by shifting to a more sustainable economic
paradigm that taps their natural potential
- from generating renewable energy and promoting
eco-tourism, to sustainable fisheries and
transport.
The report was produced
by UNEP, the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
International Maritime Organization (IMO),
United Nations Department of Economic and
Social Affairs (UN-DESA), International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),
WorldFish Center and GRID-Arendal.
It highlights how the
sustainable management of fertilizers would
help reduce the cost of marine pollution
caused by nitrogen and other nutrients used
in agriculture, which is estimated at US$100
billion (EUR 80 billion) per year in the
European Union alone.
With five months to
go before world governments meet at the
UN Conference on Sustainable Development
(Rio+20) in Brazil, Green Economy in a Blue
World presents a case to stimulate countries
to unlock the vast potential of the marine-based
economy in a green economy transition that
would significantly reduce degradation to
our oceans, while alleviating poverty and
improving livelihoods.
The synthesis report
also examines how Small Island Developing
States (SIDS), such as those in the Asia-Pacific
and Caribbean regions, can take advantage
of green economy opportunities to reduce
their vulnerability to climate change and
promote sustainable growth.
With as much as 40 per
cent of the global population living within
100 kilometres of the coast, the world's
marine ecosystems (termed the 'Blue World'
in the report) provide essential food, shelter
and livelihoods to millions of people. But
human impacts are increasingly taking their
toll the health and productivity of the
world's oceans.
Today, some 20 per cent
of mangroves have been destroyed, and more
than 60 per cent of tropical coral reefs
are under immediate, direct threat.
"Oceans are a key
pillar for many countries in their development
and fight to tackle poverty, but the wide
range of ecosystem services, including food
security and climate regulation, provided
by marine and coastal environments are today
under unprecedented pressure", said
UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive
Director Achim Steiner. "Stepping up
green investments in marine and coastal
resources and enhancing international co-operation
in managing these trans-boundary ecosystems
are essential if a transition to low-carbon,
resource efficient Green Economy is to be
realized."
"In the run-up
to Rio+20, this report shows that a shift
to a Green Economy can if comprehensively
implemented unlock the potential of marine
ecosystems to fuel economic growth - particularly
in small island developing states - but
in ways that ensure that future generations
derive an equitable share of marine resources
and services, added Mr Steiner."
Dr. Linwood Pendleton,
one of the contributors to the report, and
Director of Ocean and Coastal Policy at
the Nicholas Institute for Environmental
Policy Solutions, said: "This report
provides concrete examples of how emerging
ocean industries-including ocean energy
and aquaculture industries-can become more
profitable, more sustainable, and meet the
needs of a growing population without sacrificing
the health of our fragile ocean ecosystems."
Green Economy in a Blue
World lays out a series of recommendations
across six marine-based economic sectors.
Fisheries and aquaculture
Approximately 30 per
cent of the world's fish stocks are overexploited,
depleted, or recovering from depletion and
50 per cent are fully exploited. According
to FAO and World Bank estimates, the world
economy can gain up to USD 50 billion annually
by restoring fish stocks and reducing fishing
capacity to an optimal level.
Aquaculture, the fastest
growing food production sector, is creating
new jobs and trade opportunities. But when
poorly planned, it can increase pressure
on the already suffering marine and coastal
ecosystems.
Adoption of green technologies
and investments to lower fossil fuel use
could dramatically reduce the carbon footprint
of the sector while enhancing its contribution
to economic growth, food and nutrition security
and poverty reduction. Green technologies
include low-impact fuel-efficient fishing
methods and innovative aquaculture production
systems using environmentally friendly feeds.
Small-scale producers and traders in developing
countries make up the majority of the 530
million fishery-dependent people in the
world. Strengthening regional and national
fisheries agencies, as well as community
and trade fishing associations and cooperatives,
will be critical to the sustainable and
equitable use of marine resources.
Marine transport
International shipping
transports around 90 per cent of world commerce
and is the safest, most secure, most efficient
and most environmentally sound means of
bulk transportation. The sector already
benefits from a global regulatory framework
and agreements such as the MARPOL Convention,
which regulate emissions of air pollutants
and energy efficiency measures.
Further greening of
the sector could be achieved, argues the
report, by supporting countries to implement
and enforce standards, switching ships to
environmentally sound fuel sources and preventing
the transfer of invasive aquatic species
transported via ships' ballast water or
hulls (the effects of which are estimated
to cost US$100 billion a year), and addressing
the technical, operational and environmental
aspects of the increasing size of ships.
Marine-based renewable
energy
Marine-based renewable
energy (wind, wave and tidal) potential
is high, yet in 2008 these energy technologies
represented just one per cent of all renewable
energy production.
Installed capacity is
unlikely to become significant until after
2020, because, with the exception of offshore
wind energy, most marine-based renewable
energy technologies are in the conceptual
or demonstration phase. Technical costs
also remain a barrier.
Marine-based renewable
energy also carries significant potential
for green job creation. The type and scale
of opportunity will vary according to national
context and energy source.
To harness the potential
of marine-based renewable energy to drive
a green economy, the report recommends:
Consistent long-term
policies, with specific targets for marine-based
renewable energy, and targeted financial
support from governments to overcome technical
barriers. Incentives such as grants, subsidies
and tax credits are required to encourage
private investment to move from small prototypes
to pilot plants.
Governments need to
proactively guide developments to reduce
potential for social environmental and legal
conflicts and promote synergies with other
marine users.
Ocean nutrient pollution
Fertilizers such as
nitrogen and phosphorous are essential to
global food security and have played a key
role in increasing crop yields. But inefficient
use of nutrients is contributing to the
degradation of marine ecosystems and groundwater,
including the formation of oxygen-poor 'dead'
zones.
The amount of nitrogen
reaching oceans and coasts has increased
three-fold from pre-industrial levels -
primarily due to agricultural run-off and
untreated sewage. This could expand by up
to 2.7 times by 2050 under a 'business as
usual' scenario.
The report says nutrient
pollution and can be reduced - and innovation,
public-private partnerships and job creation
enhanced - through:
A 'cyclical approach'
including substantial recovery and recycling
of waste nutrients
Policy instruments that include stricter
regulation of nutrient removal from wastewater,
mandatory nutrient management plans in agriculture
and enhanced regulation of manure.
Subsidies that encourage
nutrient recycling
Coastal tourism
The tourism economy
represents 5 percent of global GDP and contributes
6 to 7 per cent of total employment. Estimates
are that more than one-third of travellers
favour environmentally friendly tourism.
There is considerable
potential for creating more green jobs in
the tourism sector, given that one job in
the core industry is shown to create one
and a half jobs in tourism-related sectors.
Sourcing local products (from sustainable
farming and fishing) and safeguarding local
culture are examples of where green investments
could be targeted.
Key steps outlined in
the report include:
Improving waste management
to save money, create jobs and improve the
appearance of tourism destinations
Mobilising multi-sector partnerships and
financing strategies to spread the costs
and risks of green investments and support
small and medium size enterprises (which
represent the majority of tourism businesses).
Investment in energy
efficiency, which can generate significant
returns within short payback periods
Cross-sectoral consultation
(between governments, communities and businesses)
and integrated coastal zone management to
help ensure sound development strategies
in tourist areas that meet the needs of
diverse stakeholders
Deep-sea minerals
Deep-sea minerals are
a possible new revenue stream that could
support national development goals. However,
the deep-sea environment is one of the least
understood regions of the planet and there
is still only a rudimentary understanding
of the ecosystems services that these environments
support. Management of these resources must
be informed by sound science and best environmental
practices applied.
All stakeholders need
to be considered when managing deep-sea
mining activities in the context of sustainable
use of oceans. Management practices should
be holistic, based on an integrated overview
of all present and future human uses and
ecosystems services.
Notes to Editors
Additional quotations
from partners
Dr Peter Prokosch, Managing
Director of UNEP/GRID-Arendal, said: "Mining
of minerals in the deep-sea provides a unique
opportunity for developing countries towards
reaching their development goals. Operating
in a largely unknown natural environment,
it may put additional pressure on already
stressed marine ecosystems. However, it
can relieve some of the burdens of mining
in the terrestrial environment. Careful
and responsible planning of deep-sea minerals
mining needs to apply the Precautionary
Principle, and consider the other sectors
and in particular future generations."
Mr. Arni Mathiesen,
Assistant Director-General of FAO's Fisheries
and Aquaculture Department, said: "The
food production potential of the oceans
is at risk and with it the livelihoods of
hundreds of millions of people who depend
on fisheries and aquaculture. If the current
trend in unsustainable use of marine resources
is not reverted the ability of our oceans
to deliver food for future generations is
severely compromised. Ocean fisheries and
aquaculture are among humanity's best opportunities
to deliver highly nutritious food to a growing
population. To lose this opportunity would
be a crime on future generations."
