On Wednesday, 26 August 2020, the 2^nd webinar, “Why Science and Innovation are Crucial for a Blue Recovery” was organized as a part of the World Ocean Summit Insight Hour webinar series, jointly organized by the Ocean Policy Research Institute of The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, The Nippon Foundation, and The Economist Group. Science, technology and innovation are playing critical roles in promoting a sustainable ocean-based economy and facilitating the socio-economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic impacts that is called a “blue recovery”.

At this 2^nd webinar, H.E. Mr. Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of the Environment, emphasized that the Government of Japan is committed to playing a leadership role in achieving a sustainable ocean. In the panel discussions, a group of distinguished multi-stakeholder panelists from around the world, including leaders and executives from government, science and research, the private sector and international organizations discussed how to promote science, innovation and finance for achieving a sustainable ocean and promoting a blue recovery.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Atsushi Sunami, President of The Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the Ocean Policy Research Institute of SPF, recalled the discussions at the 1st webinar held last month to commemorate Japan’s Marine Day. At the same time, he referred to the recent disaster that devastated the coastal area of Mauritius. He mentioned that the people of Mauritius, with the support of France, India, Japan and others, are striving to salvage their renowned marine and coastal areas that were contaminated by the oil spill, and underlined the need to mobilize support to facilitate recovery and prevent the recurrence of such disasters.

In the keynote dialogue, H.E. Mr. Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of the Environment, Japan, interacted with Mr. Goddard on the issues of a blue recovery and policies and initiatives related to the ocean. Minister Koizumi expressed his great concern over the marine pollution caused by the oil spill in Mauritius and referred to the assistance provided by the Government of Japan, such as the dispatch of oil spill recovery experts and equipment.

In the High Level Panel discussions, Mr. Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Director, Seabed 2030 Project, explained that the Sea-bed 2030 project is collaborating with the Nippon Foundation on its mission to map the entire world ocean floor by 2030 and provide information useful to projects on climate change, sea level rise and tsunami impacts, essential for research with commercial, environmental, and economic implications.
 
Ms. Nina Jensen, CEO, Rev Ocean, introduced the plan of Rev Ocean for building the most advanced large research and expedition vessel that will offer a free platform for scientists and ocean enthusiasts from around the world to create solutions for ocean problems.

Ms. Ingrid van Wees, Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management, Asian Development Bank, introduced the work of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on a blue recovery by referring to the ADB’s Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies launched last year, and stated that it is very encouraging to see science and technology being promoted to build sustainability.
 
Dr. Aryo Hanggono, Director General of Marine Spatial Management, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia, in response to Mr. Goddard’s question about Indonesia’s strategies to tackle IUU fishing, pointed out that eliminating IUU fishing is still a vital policy goal for Indonesia and mentioned that Indonesia has identified 71 illegal fishing vessels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Mitsuru Izumo, Chief Executive, Euglena Co., introduced Euglena by stating that it is a kind of algae, a single-celled flagellated microorganism that features both plant and animal characteristics, living in fresh and brackish water and moist soils that are rich in organic matter.
 
Mr. Ram Natarajan, Chief Executive, APAC (Asia-Pacific), Mainstream Renewable Power, underlined that there is a growing demand for energy, and wind power generation offers a useful source of renewable energies.

Throughout the discussion, it was obvious that the speakers attach importance to stakeholder and private sector engagement; the integration of science, technology, innovation and finance; and awareness raising, communication, and capacity development in order to promote a blue recovery and achieve a sustainable ocean.
 

Click here for a more detailed report.