Ocean Newsletter

No.479 July 20, 2020

  • Towards a Blue Recovery SUNAMI Atsushi
    President of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and President of the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI)
    Selected Papers No.26
  • Current State of Japan’s Autonomous Ship Development SHIMIZU Etsuro
    Professor, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
  • On Solving the Marine Plastics Problem YOSHIDA Takafumi
    Senior Researcher, Northwest Pacific Region Environmental Cooperation Center

Towards a Blue Recovery

Sustainable recovery from the corona crisis — Blue recovery

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, our societies and economies are undergoing huge change.
Governments around the globe are faced with difficult challenges as to how to control the pandemic and at the same time revive the economy. Many people seem to be having a premonition that some aspects of our lives are going to change, and are experiencing anxiety about what will become of our society in the post COVID-19 world. Oceanic sectors are no exception. COVID-19 is affecting various marine activities, posing the question to all of us: How do we intend to engage with the ocean in the future?
Against this background, before and after the “World Oceans Day” (June 8), a series of online meetings were held on an array of themes, bringing together marine sector leaders of the world to discuss ocean-related issues. In many of these meetings, the recognition was shared that the ocean connects us all and thus international cooperation is essential. At a time when economic recovery is a priority, there is risk that concerns over the marine environment may be set aside, but participants reaffirmed their will to overcome the corona crisis in a sustainable way. The term “blue recovery” was coined to express sustainable recovery of the ocean economy.
In this article, I would like to discuss how Japan can take the initiative in the move towards a blue recovery, a vision to use the crisis as an opportunity to promote sustainable marine business activities that will help maintain the ocean’s health and transform our economy into a sustainable one. Rather than seeing economic recovery and protection of the marine environment as conflicting goals in a tradeoff relation, blue recovery aims to build a robust economy that can overcome threats to biodiversity and climate change risks.

The Monaco Blue Initiative online meeting held on May 28, 2020, supported by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. The author is at the top left. (11th Monaco Blue Initiative 2020 ‒ Digital edition ‒ https://www.monacooceanweek.org/en/11th-monaco-blue-initiative-2020-digital-edition/)

The move towards a blue recovery

2020 had been dubbed the “ocean super year” because the triennial UN Ocean Conference and biennial meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD-COP) and many other high-level events were scheduled this year to discuss the future and sustainability of our ocean. Although many of these important meetings have been postponed due to the global spread of COVID-19, we need to maintain momentum towards the restarting of those conferences with a view to a blue recovery and the post COVID-19 world. For example, the postponed CBD-COP15 was expected to agree on a 2030 target (post-Aichi target) to succeed the Aichi target adopted in 2010; this 2030 target to expand protected marine areas by proposing to protect 30 percent of coastal and marine areas by 2030 (the “30 by 30” goal) had been receiving much attention. Some protected marine areas, however, rely on eco-tourism revenue as their funding source for maintaining and managing the environment. This implies that we need to devise new ways to expand protected areas, while at the same time taking measures to prevent the spread of infection in our efforts to revive the economy. The ocean is also an area of focus in the context of climate change, as the 25th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP25), held last December, referred to the ocean and its role as a climate regulator for the first time in the COP Decision. Further discussions will take place at COP26, to be held in November 2021. As “net zero” discussions to eliminate GHG emissions by 2050 gain momentum, acceleration of offshore wind power generation and other contributions are expected from the marine sector.
The “Our Ocean” 2020 Conference will be held on December 7- 8 in Palau to spearhead such moves toward sustainable utilization of oceans. John Kerry initiated the “Our Ocean” Conference in 2014, when he was the U.S. Secretary of State. Today, it has grown into a forum that brings together leaders of governments, business, academia, thinktanks and NGOs from around the world to discuss ocean issues and is expected to demonstrate global leadership towards a blue recovery.

Expectations for Japan and efforts made by OPRI

Recently, the world has been witnessing a growing anti-globalization trend, as seen in the power clash between the U.S. and China and in Brexit, the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The corona crisis seems to be accelerating this trend. Indeed, various sectors are starting to strategically review their global supply chains. At a time of such increasing division, the role that Japan can assume in international cooperation is extremely important.
As highlighted by the spread of COVID-19 on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, it is impossible for a host country alone to resolve quarantine issues associated with foreign-flagged ships. International discussion and cooperation are indispensable and common international rules need to be in place. One of the international organizations designed to discuss such issues is the International Maritime Organization (IMO). As an oceanic country that relies on maritime transport for much of its international distribution needs, Japan has been a member state of the IMO Council since the establishment of the organization, and is thus expected to lead international discussions for maritime safety, including on-board safety measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Likewise, Japan’s leadership is sought towards realizing the “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision” set out in the 2019 G20 Summit Declaration, which aims to reduce additional pollution by marine plastic litter to zero by 2050. Reducing the use of disposable plastic products such as straws and grocery bags has become a symbolic gesture associated with this issue. On the other hand, the benefits and usefulness of plastic products are being re-acknowledged in our fight against COVID-19. In these circumstances, how are we going to eliminate additional pollution by marine plastic litter? In addition to thorough implementation of “reduce, reuse and recycle” (the 3Rs), Japan can lead efforts through technology innovation, including development of new recycling technologies and alternative materials such as biodegradable plastics. In Osaka, where the 2019 G20 Summit was held, the 2025 World Exposition will be held on an artificial island named “Yumeshima.” The event will be a good opportunity for Japan to demonstrate the new values of blue recovery to the world.
OPRI will bridge science and technology and policy by continuing research on how COVID-19 will affect ocean governance inside and outside Japan.
Not only will we continue to issue the OPRI Ocean Newsletter by holding editorial meetings online, we will also hold our Ocean Forums online to continue information dissemination. The first of a three-session webinar series on blue recovery, organized jointly with The Nippon Foundation and The Economist (UK), will be held on July 23rd. Aiming at a more sustainable use of the oceans, we intend to further enhance the networks we have built with those involved in ocean affairs around the world, promote collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders, and continue making effective policy proposals and disseminating relevant information to the public.

An example of a special website launched by OPRI as part of our efforts to overcome COVID-19.
(“The Ocean and Stay Home,” a limited-time website set up to offer educational contents for children and adults who want to continue learning while confined to the home due to the COVID-19 quarantine)
https://www.spf.org/opri/opri_covid19_edu.html

Page Top