Highlights

Blue economy conference enters day two

The first ever global blue economy conference that opened in Nairobi yesterday, enters day two with key events lined up for discussion.

The three-day gathering co-hosted by Kenya, Canada and Japan seeks to harness the promise and address the vulnerabilities of the blue economy.

 

The CS Foreign Affairs Amb.Monica Juma confirmed that over 18,000 participants are attending the conference which is expected to come up with strategies to harness water resources to improve the lives of all and unlock opportunities in blue economy.

President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged Kenya’s support for the sustainable blue economy by highlighting key areas of focus and called for the world to work together to secure success in managing the global aquatic resources for sustainable global development.

Heads of State and government at the conference, who included, President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Filipe Nyusi (Mozambique), Abdullahi Mohamed (Somalia), Ali Mohammed Shein (Zanzibar) and Danny Faure of Seychelles, committed themselves to the preservation of the marine resources, saying if well harnessed, marine resources could contribute more than double the current global economy.

 

The key events lined up for the day include

  • Thematic sessions on sustainable energy and mineral resources and innovative industries
  • Management and sustaining of marine life, conservation and economic activities,
  • Ending hunger, securing food supplies and promoting good health and sustainable fisheries and climate action, agriculture, waste management and pollution-free oceans.

Other forums will include governors and mayors’ conventions, business and private sector forum and civil society forum. A number of environment friendly civil society organizations are also in attendance.

This inaugural conference brings together political leaders and government representatives, the African Union, Commonwealth and the United Nations organs.

Other attendees are

  • The International Maritime Organization
  • The World Wildlife Fund
  • International Seabed Authority
  • The World Bank
  • AFRIEXIM BANK
  • The Ocean Foundation

The Sustainable Blue Economy Conference builds on the momentum of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 2015 Climate Change Conference in Paris and the UN Ocean Conference 2017 ‘Call to Action’.

Ends…