Building Partnerships for Blue Economy, Sports and Environment

SIDE EVENT
Friday 3 June
15:15-16:30 CEST
Stockholmsmässan, Room 3

Organizers: State Department for Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Blue Economy, Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife, Stockholm Environment Institute

About: This side event will focus on building partnerships to promote a sustainable blue economy, sports and environment. The event will thus be in two parts: the first focussing on science, innovations and investments in blue economy, while the second part will focus on sports, specifically, actions by athletics federations to champion air quality and climate actions.


The key objectives of the side event held in two parts are the following;

  • Promote business and partnership-building to catalyse transformative investments and sustainable harnessing of Oceans and the Blue Economy with a focus on Africa and the Small Island Development States (SIDs);
  • Actioning collaborative partnerships between the scientific, policy and private sector communities to facilitate investments and commercialization of research and innovations in Blue Economy and oceans;
  • Exploration of a viable model for a Sustainable Blue Economy investment instrument;
  • Raise awareness on the link between sports, specifically athletics, and the environment, looking at air quality and climate actions for human health;
  • Highlight the role of sports in environmental sustainability, and more specifically, showcase examples of actions by sports federations in Sweden, Kenya, and globally;
  • Recommendations on actions by the Ocean and sports community to address the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change, while contributing to recovery and resilience post Covid-19.

Moderator(s): Yannis Nikolaou (World Athletics)

Panelists:

  • Lord Sebastian Coe (World Athletics)

  • Amb. Helen Ågren (Sweden)

  • Jakob Granit (Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management)

  • Kay Harrison (Climate Change Ambassador, New Zealand)

  • George Outa (Blue Economy Investment Facility)

  • Johan Storåkers (Swedish Athletic Association)

  • Jackson Tuwei (Athletics Kenya)

  • David Rudisha (Double Olympic Gold medallist)

Contact person: Lucy Obungu (lucyobungu_at_yahoo.com)

Event outcomes (Key transformative actions):

  • Embracing global partnerships investments for sustainable blue economy development to achievement of agenda 2030. Exchange of technology and innovations for sustainable exploitation of Blue Economy resources. Human and financial capacities required for sustainable exploration of blue Economy resources. Scientific research required for informed decision making and understanding the ocean ecosystem interactions. Development of marine spatial plans to support blue agenda and safeguard the ecosystems. Holistic framework required for public private partnerships to enable participation by all relevant stakeholders.
  • Creating environmental awareness through athletic platforms globally. Athletics Kenya collaborating with relevant institutions in creating green spaces within the cities. Reducing air pollution because every breath count
  • Need for ecosystem restoration and combat pollution. International collaborations for research geared towards environmental protection. Sensitization campaigns on biodiversity loss. Finances required for environmental cleanup and ecosystem restoration

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