A SHIFT to low-carbon, resource-efficient green economy and promoting ecotourism, fisheries and transport would help boost economic growth and reduce world poverty, according to a United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) report released on Wednesday in Manila.
The ecological health and economic productivity of marine and coastal ecosystems that are on the decline around the globe, could be boosted by shifting to a more sustainable economic approach that taps their natural potential—from generating renewable energy and promoting ecotourism, to sustainable fisheries and transport, said the report, titled Green Economy in a Blue World. It was launched during the Global Conference on Land-Ocean Connections and the Intergovernmental Review of the Global Program of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment (GPA).
With as much as 40 percent of the global population living within 100 kilometers of the coast, the world’s marine ecosystems provide essential food, shelter and livelihoods to millions of people. But human activities are increasingly taking their toll on the health and productivity of the world’s oceans.
Today, 20 percent of mangroves have been destroyed, and more than 60 percent of tropical coral reefs are under immediate, direct threat, the report said.
“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 Achim Steiner, UN undersecretary-general and Unep executive director. “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.”
Steiner said in the run-up to Rio+20, the report showed that a shift to a green economy could, 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.
Approximately 30 percent of the world’s fish stocks are overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion and 50 percent are fully exploited, the report said. FAO and World Bank estimates show that the world economy can gain up to $50 billion annually by restoring fish stocks and reducing fishing capacity to an optimal level.
Marine-based renewable energy also carries significant potential for green job creation, the report added. 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 that there should be 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. It said governments must proactively guide developments to reduce potential for social environmental and legal conflicts.
On coastal tourism, the report said there is considerable potential for creating more green jobs. Sourcing local products (from sustainable farming and fishing) and safeguarding local culture are examples of where green investments could be targeted.
“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,” said Linwood Pendleton, one of the contributors to the report, and director of Ocean and Coastal Policy at the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.
