Future of Coastal Cities

By 2030, the UN estimates, 70% of people will be in our global cities, the hubs of innovation and economy that today provide about 80% of global GDP (World Bank). Cities around the globe are growing fast—more than half of the world’s 7.2 billion people now live in one city or another, a number expected to swell to more than 6 billion people living in cities by 2050, mostly in Africa and Asia. Cities now deliver fully three-quarters of global economic activity, totaling more than US$50 trillion.

Cities around the world have made bold commitments to confront climate change. The Compact of Mayors, announced at the UN Climate Summit in New York City, is convening cities to set ambitious targets and report their performance transparently. Through the Compact, some of the world’s leading city networks—C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)—in partnership with 25 organizations are mobilizing their cities to amplify and expand commitments to address climate change.

Blue Economy Development: Where are we now? Where are we headed?

Identification and measurement of the ocean-based and ocean-related economic activities, and their contribution to national economies will be presented during the workshop. Sustainability of such activities will be examined through valuation of ecosystem services and damages. Examples of investments in innovative practices and technologies that contribute to blue economy development, address environmental and resource degradation and climate change impacts, and make economic activities more environmentally sound will also be presented. 

The assessment of ocean economy, ocean health and investment opportunities provided the evidence base for setting a policy agenda and roadmap for sustainable management of coasts and oceans, institutionalizing ocean economy-environment accounting, integrating the blue economy assessment into economic development and investment plans, and enabling blue economy investments. Moving from the initial country assessment to reporting of national and regional State of Oceans and Coasts (SOC) was also explored.