It’s last minute preparations in the city as Kenya gets ready to host the first ever global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi starting tomorrow.
The Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) gates will be flung open tomorrow for the Conference that will run from November 26th to the 28th is being co-hosted with Canada and Japan and will see over 13,000 participants from all around the world come together to learn how to build a Blue Economy.
The Blue Economy Conference focuses on sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem and supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG14 ‘life below water’.
However, what most people don’t know is that although the Blue Economy focuses s lot on the marine life, this summit will also include a historic leadership commitments segment, a business and private sector forum, governors and mayors convention and a star-studded science and research symposium at the University of Nairobi.
Other major segments of the conference are a civil society forum, an international diaspora side event as well as a youth side summit, a business and technology exhibition, a national museum and blue economy archaeology exhibition and finally a blue economy film and photography festival to be coordinated and managed by the Kenya Film Classification Board.
The Blue Economy harnesses the potential of the oceans, seas, lakes and rivers to improve the lives of all, particularly people in developing states, women, youth and Indigenous peoples. It further leverages the latest innovations, scientific advances and best practices to build prosperity while conserving our waters for future generations.
In a nutshell, oceans, lakes, seas and rivers contribute to poverty eradication by creating sustainable livelihoods and decent work. They provide food and minerals, generate oxygen, absorb greenhouse gases and mitigate the impacts of climate change. They also determine weather patterns and temperatures and serve as highways for seaborne international trade.
Blue economy is a concept derived from all these and seeks to promote economic growth, encourage social inclusion, improve livelihoods while also ensuring environmental sustainability.
By hosting the first ever conference of this kind, Kenya will have played its part in providing a chance to re-energise the world around the potential of the blue economy.
Are you excited about the Blue Economy and do you think it will improve your life as a Kenyan?