In the last decade, the concept of a Blue Economy has ignited a deep theoretical debate. Ranging from the integration of the triple bottom line of sustainability to the optimization of profit from ocean exploitation, the meaning of the term blue economy differs considerably between epistemic communities and even more so among national and regional policies. There is a general sense of the opportunity to realise enhanced social and economic benefits from the sustainable utilisation of their ocean and coastal resources under the umbrella framework of blue economy.
Blue economy is gaining traction already as a significant component of national policies, even in spite of a clear conceptualization of the term. Many countries are now preparing national policies towards realising their blue economy ambitions, utilizing the concept as they see fit. Likewise, multilateral and regional organisations are developing guidelines, and providing investment in new research, technologies, and financing tools that promote blue economy. Critical challenges abound, in particular in less privileged countries. These include the gap in research capabilities, governments prioritizing social wellbeing and economic profit in contrast to environmental protection, the identification of new and emerging areas of ocean economic activity that are both socially and ecologically sustainable and holds viable business models that can attract private investment.
Transitioning to a sustainable blue economy is in today’s political agendas. However, this is far from easy, as various context-dependent trade-offs ultimately need to be made. Thus, it is essential that research increasingly serve as a channel to understand the blue economy's fundamental features and provide insights to what stakes are in peril. The blue economy's progress includes indicators and measures to characterise environmental sustainability, social wellbeing, methodological issues to identify and present spatial-temporal patterns of resource, inter-agency or ministerial institutional coordination, science informed frameworks, and support policies of sustainable development.
In light of the contrasting pace in which policies are being shaped whilst scientific knowledge is being produced, this Research Topic seeks contributions from the fields of social sciences and humanities in general. Research articles should cover multi- and inter-disciplinary topics that focus on the conceptualisation of the blue economy and its operationalisation. This special issue will summarily evaluate the gap that can emerge between intentions and results when the blue economy is put into practice and highlight the lack of discussion on important topics such as equity, justice, human right, etc. Contributions from the Global South are in particular welcomed.
This Research Topic will feature themes such as:
• Operationalising the blue economy in a changing world;
• Ocean regulations and blue innovations;
• The blue economy and carbon neutrality;
• The Political Economy of the blue economy;
• Conditions and interactions between political actors and institutions towards blue economy development;
• The role of science, technology and innovation in the ocean sector development;
• Blue economy and good governance for sustainable development;
• Models and patterns of development for blue economy transformation at national, regional and global levels, mitigating the effects of pressing oceanic and societal challenges and creating new development directions;
• Proposals for defining and measuring blue transition and sustainable development relationship;
• Blue economy and sustainable financing;
• Cooperation and science diplomacy;
• The role of the private sector and industries in the sustainable blue economy and transformation;
• Contemporary governance and management challenges in the context of sustainable ocean development.
Therefore, we invite authors to submit papers cutting across several fields that will contribute to creating this special issue. We are looking for scientific articles, perspectives and comprehensive reviews related to the blue economy and sustainable ocean development. Research articles led by reseaerchers from the Global South are highly welcome. All submitted artilcles for this Special Issue will be subject to a rigorous peer-review process to enable quick and wide dissemination of their application in research and development on the blue economy.
In the last decade, the concept of a Blue Economy has ignited a deep theoretical debate. Ranging from the integration of the triple bottom line of sustainability to the optimization of profit from ocean exploitation, the meaning of the term blue economy differs considerably between epistemic communities and even more so among national and regional policies. There is a general sense of the opportunity to realise enhanced social and economic benefits from the sustainable utilisation of their ocean and coastal resources under the umbrella framework of blue economy.
Blue economy is gaining traction already as a significant component of national policies, even in spite of a clear conceptualization of the term. Many countries are now preparing national policies towards realising their blue economy ambitions, utilizing the concept as they see fit. Likewise, multilateral and regional organisations are developing guidelines, and providing investment in new research, technologies, and financing tools that promote blue economy. Critical challenges abound, in particular in less privileged countries. These include the gap in research capabilities, governments prioritizing social wellbeing and economic profit in contrast to environmental protection, the identification of new and emerging areas of ocean economic activity that are both socially and ecologically sustainable and holds viable business models that can attract private investment.
Transitioning to a sustainable blue economy is in today’s political agendas. However, this is far from easy, as various context-dependent trade-offs ultimately need to be made. Thus, it is essential that research increasingly serve as a channel to understand the blue economy's fundamental features and provide insights to what stakes are in peril. The blue economy's progress includes indicators and measures to characterise environmental sustainability, social wellbeing, methodological issues to identify and present spatial-temporal patterns of resource, inter-agency or ministerial institutional coordination, science informed frameworks, and support policies of sustainable development.
In light of the contrasting pace in which policies are being shaped whilst scientific knowledge is being produced, this Research Topic seeks contributions from the fields of social sciences and humanities in general. Research articles should cover multi- and inter-disciplinary topics that focus on the conceptualisation of the blue economy and its operationalisation. This special issue will summarily evaluate the gap that can emerge between intentions and results when the blue economy is put into practice and highlight the lack of discussion on important topics such as equity, justice, human right, etc. Contributions from the Global South are in particular welcomed.
This Research Topic will feature themes such as:
• Operationalising the blue economy in a changing world;
• Ocean regulations and blue innovations;
• The blue economy and carbon neutrality;
• The Political Economy of the blue economy;
• Conditions and interactions between political actors and institutions towards blue economy development;
• The role of science, technology and innovation in the ocean sector development;
• Blue economy and good governance for sustainable development;
• Models and patterns of development for blue economy transformation at national, regional and global levels, mitigating the effects of pressing oceanic and societal challenges and creating new development directions;
• Proposals for defining and measuring blue transition and sustainable development relationship;
• Blue economy and sustainable financing;
• Cooperation and science diplomacy;
• The role of the private sector and industries in the sustainable blue economy and transformation;
• Contemporary governance and management challenges in the context of sustainable ocean development.
Therefore, we invite authors to submit papers cutting across several fields that will contribute to creating this special issue. We are looking for scientific articles, perspectives and comprehensive reviews related to the blue economy and sustainable ocean development. Research articles led by reseaerchers from the Global South are highly welcome. All submitted artilcles for this Special Issue will be subject to a rigorous peer-review process to enable quick and wide dissemination of their application in research and development on the blue economy.