The second edition of the training “Economic Diplomacy, Sustainable Development and the Blue Economy” for South Africa took place at Clingendael. The training - set up in cooperation with the South African Ministry for International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) – focused on the implementation of South Africa’s strategy for the Blue Economy.  

What is Blue Economy?

For South Africa, Blue Economy means unlocking the vast economic potential of the oceans. Blue Economy stands for the Ocean’s Economy. Operation Phakisa – its national Blue Economy strategy - covers sectors of aquaculture, marine transport and manufacturing, offshore oil and gas and marine security.

The SIDS approach

Clingendael Academy will organise its next Blue Economy course for a group of diplomats from the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). For them, Blue Economy means the use of the sea and its resources for sustainable economic development. Governments need the surrounding oceans and their resources to run the economy, for example by transporting global goods, attracting tourists, and running energy projects. But the SIDS are also faced with the difficulties of water scarcities and sea level rises. For them it is vital to fuel the Ocean’s Economy in a sustainable way and to endure these increasing water difficulties, particularly in light of climate change. Clingendael Academy's course aims to strengthen the capacity of diplomats in promoting sustainable and healthy oceans while being effective in economic diplomacy.

Green Economy 2.0 

A third way to look at the Blue Economy is based on the research done for the Club of Rome. According to this research, using oceans in a sustainable or green manner is not ambitious enough. The Blue Economy encourages us to respond to basic needs with what we have, whereas the Green Economy promotes reducing the use of resources – for example by investing in environment-friendly technologies. The Blue Economy thus aims to make better use of advanced technologies, inspired by nature, and to use waste for new production cycles. While the Green Economy implies more costs, the Blue Economy should increase profits.

For more information about the Academy's training programmes on Blue Economy please contact Evelien Borgman or Mara van der Meer.