The first ever global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference kicked off today at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi and was officially launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Blue Economy is the largest conference in history in solidarity with our Oceans, Lakes and Rivers. Over 17,600 participants, 183 country delegations and hundreds of organizations and agencies are said to be in attendance for the conference that seeks to build prosperity and protect the planet.
Presiding over the conference, the President welcomed the over 17,000 participants and thanked them for accepting the invitation to join the country at what he said was an important Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy. President Uhuru said that he was excited by the enormous economic prospects of the blue economy but at the same time deeply concerned about the challenges of sustainable use of this critical resource.
The President lamented over the inadequate attention the world has given to the impact of human action on the health and productivity of our waters which he said are the heart of our planet since they supply nearly half the oxygen we breathe, absorb over a quarter of the carbon dioxide we produce and regulate the weather and temperature.
President Uhuru further said that the ocean systems are under immense stress and their ability to act as climate regulators and key engines for economic growth and sustainable development has progressively been eroded.
Uhuru further said that the world is already feeling the impact of plastics in the oceans. According to him, the eight million tons of plastics that enter the sea each year are transformed into micro-plastics which enter into the food chain and negatively impact ecosystems, animals and human health.
“We are already experiencing the impact of climate change, which risks triggering rising temperatures that would flood and destroy large sections of our coastal economies,” said President Uhuru.
All hope is not lost as the President pointed out that Canada and Seychelles are good examples of countries that have made progressive actions to sustainably use, nurture and protect marine resources.
Uhuru ended his speech by making a personal pledge to promote the vision of a blue economy.
“I make this pledge in recognition of the need to:
i. Adopt appropriate policies, strategies and mechanisms to harness the blue economy to re-energize our national economies and create greater opportunities and jobs for our people;
ii. Confront, head-on, the challenge of waste management and plastic pollution that is compromising the health of our people and oceans, seas and rivers as well as threatening food security and the biodiversity on land and at sea;
iii. Ensure responsible and sustainable fishing to conserve the endangered species and high value fish stocks, on which millions of people depend for their livelihoods
iv. Ensure safety and security in the high seas so that global trade, connectivity and all businesses can thrive unhindered and unfettered,” said the President while making his pledge.
Do you think the Blue Economy is a step towards fighting climate change?