Green Economy in a Blue World-Full Report

By better understanding the causes of environmental change, society can take steps to address and even reverse the decline of environmental capital while also maintaining economic and social capital. New approaches focus directly on changing the basic elements of the cycle of environmental degradation: a) the drivers of change – human needs and desires, and the activities undertaken to achieve them, b) the pressures these activities create including the emission of pollutants, wastes and greenhouse gases, or the extractionof resources, c) the ways in which these pressures impinge upon the environmental and ecological state of our coasts and oceans, and d) the impacts these changes in ecosystem-state have on poverty, value, and other measures of human wellbeing. Life-cycle thinking and more specifically life cycle assessment (see box) identifies steps in the processes of manufacturing, consumption, and waste disposal where environmental impacts can be reduced while improving economic efficiency and profitability. Towards a Green Economy in a Blue World Sustainable practices can improve the current and future economic, cultural and societal value of oceans and coasts and guarantee these values far into the future. This report highlights

ways to reduce the environmental footprint of economic activities on marine and coastal areas and improve the environmental, economic and social sustainability of traditional and emerging ocean-oriented economies – economics that can foster job creation for a growing population. The following chapters show how fisheries, tourism and maritime transport can take steps to reduce their impact on the marine environment. By reducing environmental waste, these industries themselves can becomemore efficient, profitable and sustainable and can contribute directly to the sustainability and productivity of other businesses and livelihoods which depend on healthy oceans and coasts. The authors explore what it will mean to green emerging ocean economic activities including energy generation, aquaculture and themining of deep-seaminerals. Lastly, the volume highlights how greening the agriculture, wastewater and fertilizer industries could transform the nutrient economy with substantial benefits to ocean sustainability. Throughout, the report demonstrates that creating a green economy in the blue world – one that ‘improves human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities’ – means creating sustainable jobs, lasting economic value and increased social equity.

in a Blue World

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