BLUE FUTURE CONFERENCE: MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON THE BLUE ECONOMY AND CLIMATE ACTION IN AFRICA: ISLAND AND COASTAL STATES AT THE FOREFRONT

Overview

The African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are jointly organising the Blue Future Conference: Ministerial Conference on the Blue Economy and Climate Action in Africa: Island and Coastal States at the Forefront. The conference will be held from June 12 to 14, 2023, in Moroni, Union of Comoros.

The Union of the Comoros, currently holding the chairpersonship of the African Union (AU), has prioritised the blue economy, climate action, and defending the interests of island states. This conference aims to highlight the potential of the blue economy in Africa and emphasise the specificities of island states on the continental stage, whilst supporting African Union member states participating in the Great Blue Wall Initiative to develop an investment and funding plan for the implementation of this initiative.

Africa’s oceans and seas are critical to its efforts to achieve Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, in view of their contribution to Africa’s climate solutions, economic transformation, and food security. However, they are critically impacted by growing anthropogenic pressures - climate change, pollution, unbridled coastal development, overfishing and habitat destruction. Initiatives such as the Africa Blue Economy Strategy and the Great Blue Wall Initiative.

The Conference will discuss the blue economy (including its role in underpinning a healthy continental free trade area), climate action, as well as the role that Africa’s island states, in their capacity as “large ocean states”, as well as its coastal states, can play in achieving these objectives. It will furthermore, in its technical segment, discuss and develop a funding proposal for the implementation of the Great Blue Wall Initiative to enable it to achieve its climate and biodiversity objectives while yielding benefits for the countries and communities involved.

Objective:

The Blue Future Ministerial Conference on the Blue Economy and Climate Action in Africa: Island and Coastal States at the Forefront seeks to accelerate momentum on the blue economy in Africa. The meeting aims to:

1. Highlight the importance of the blue economy for Africa’s sustainable development, while facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders on best practices and innovative approaches for sustainable and inclusive development of the blue economy.
2. Examine the development challenges faced by African island states and identify opportunities for accelerating the development of the blue economy, including its role within the African continental free trade area;
3. Affirm the political commitment of Africa’s island and Western Indian Ocean coastal states to the Great Blue Wall and accelerate its implementation.
4. Strengthen cooperation on the blue economy in the Western Indian Ocean region, to strengthen environmental sustainability, socio-economic development, and peace.
5. Improve understanding of the current state of the blue economy in the Western Indian Ocean and the challenges and opportunities for sustainable development and management of ocean resources, with view to Generate recommendations for action, including policy and investment priorities, to support a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive blue economy in the region.
6. Discuss and finalize a Moroni Declaration on Blue Economy, the Great Blue Wall initiative, and the specificities of African Island States

Expected Outcomes

The meeting will discuss the Moroni Declaration on the Blue Economy, the Great Blue Wall Initiative, and the African Island States.  

It will further develop a proposal for financing the implementation of the Great Blue Wall Initiative.

Media Coverage:

Partners, members of the media are invited to attend the Conference to report on the discussions, outcomes, and commitments made by African island and coastal states towards the blue economy and climate action as well as the Great Blue Wall Initiative. Key highlights include expert sessions, high-level dialogues, and the adoption of the Moroni Declaration.

Press Contacts:

For media inquiries, please contact:

1. Marco Gourgel, GourgelA@africa-union.org [English, Portuguese]
2. Mr Didier Habimana, habimanad@un.org [English, French]
3. Mr Gilles Ribouet, gilles.ribouet@coi-ioc.org [English, French]                       

For Media inquiry:

Molalet Tsedeke,| Information and Communication Directorate| African Union Commission
Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail: Molalett@africa-union.org ; WhatsApp: +251-911-630-631 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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