Blue economy for
sustainable coastal development
(2 of 2)
|
Rokhmin Dahuri ; Professor in
Coastal and Ocean Management,
Bogor
Agricultural University (IPB)
|
JAKARTA
POST, 15 Agustus 2012
Our economic development pattern,
which has been based upon capitalism (neo-liberalism) since the beginning of
the New Order Regime, has not been able to address poverty lingering in coastal
communities. Until now, about half of Indonesia’s fishermen and coastal
residents remain poor.
The benefits of business activities in coastal and ocean economic sectors, particularly oil and gas, mining, marine tourism and maritime industries have mostly been enjoyed by big corporations of both domestic and overseas origins.
Only a tiny fraction has accrued to local communities. As a corollary, the gap between the rich and the poor has been widening for the last eight years, which is reflected by an increase in the Gini Coefficient from 0.34 in 2004 to 0.40 this year.
To this end, the message is crystal clear that our coasts and oceans are in trouble, and therefore major changes are urgently needed in the way we use, develop and manage them.
Furthermore, we have to embark on a development paradigm shift, from pursuing insatiable economic growth to a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
In other words, from now on we have to ensure the effective use of our coasts and oceans and their embodied resources in order to boost economic growth and at the same time ensure environmental sustainability and social equity.
This is actually the essence of the blue economy. It is defined as an economic model that employs green infrastructure, technology and practices, innovative and inclusive financing mechanisms and proactive institutional arrangements for meeting the twin goals of protecting coasts and oceans, and at the same time enhancing their potential contribution to sustainable development, including improving human well-being and reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.
In the blue economy, growth in income, employment and prosperity are driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and environmental services from the coasts and oceans.
In practice, the blue economy entails 13 guidelines.
First, we have to establish an integrated spatial planning for upland-coastal-ocean areas of any given region.
Second, the utilization rate of renewable resources, such as fish stocks, mangroves and other living resources, should not exceed their renewable capacity.
Third, any exploitation of non-renewable resources including oil and gas, and other mining and mineral resources must be carried out in an environmentally friendly manner, and their economic returns should be used to improve the capacity and well-being of coastal communities, to develop substitute materials and to develop sustainable economic activities.
Fourth, improve the productivity and efficiency of economic sectors on a sustainable basis.
Fifth, every economic sector as well as human activity must produce low or, if possible, zero carbon emissions and waste.
Sixth, minimize the use of fossil fuels and simultaneously use renewable energy including solar energy, wind power, wave energy, tidal energy, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) and biofuel from marine algae and seagrasses.
Seventh, conserve biodiversity at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.
Eighth, pollution control by applying zero-waste technology, “3 R” (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) technology, or waste water treatment plants.
Ninth, design and contruction activities in coastal and ocean areas should be in accordance with the structure, characteristics and dynamic of any given unit of a coastal and ocean zone.
Tenth, apply mitigation and adaptation measures for global climate change, tsunamis, storms and other natural hazards.
Eleventh, ensure that all people are able to meet their basic human needs; i.e. food, clothing, housing, health, education and transportation.
Twelfth, increase access of local communities to technology, infrastructure, capital, markets, information and other prodcutive economic assets.
Last, build capacity for local communities and strengthen institutions.
By implementing the blue economy, coastal and ocean development will not only allow Indonesia to address its chronic unemployment and poverty problems, but also contribute significantly to the realization of an advanced and prosperous Indonesia by 2025. ●
The benefits of business activities in coastal and ocean economic sectors, particularly oil and gas, mining, marine tourism and maritime industries have mostly been enjoyed by big corporations of both domestic and overseas origins.
Only a tiny fraction has accrued to local communities. As a corollary, the gap between the rich and the poor has been widening for the last eight years, which is reflected by an increase in the Gini Coefficient from 0.34 in 2004 to 0.40 this year.
To this end, the message is crystal clear that our coasts and oceans are in trouble, and therefore major changes are urgently needed in the way we use, develop and manage them.
Furthermore, we have to embark on a development paradigm shift, from pursuing insatiable economic growth to a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
In other words, from now on we have to ensure the effective use of our coasts and oceans and their embodied resources in order to boost economic growth and at the same time ensure environmental sustainability and social equity.
This is actually the essence of the blue economy. It is defined as an economic model that employs green infrastructure, technology and practices, innovative and inclusive financing mechanisms and proactive institutional arrangements for meeting the twin goals of protecting coasts and oceans, and at the same time enhancing their potential contribution to sustainable development, including improving human well-being and reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.
In the blue economy, growth in income, employment and prosperity are driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and environmental services from the coasts and oceans.
In practice, the blue economy entails 13 guidelines.
First, we have to establish an integrated spatial planning for upland-coastal-ocean areas of any given region.
Second, the utilization rate of renewable resources, such as fish stocks, mangroves and other living resources, should not exceed their renewable capacity.
Third, any exploitation of non-renewable resources including oil and gas, and other mining and mineral resources must be carried out in an environmentally friendly manner, and their economic returns should be used to improve the capacity and well-being of coastal communities, to develop substitute materials and to develop sustainable economic activities.
Fourth, improve the productivity and efficiency of economic sectors on a sustainable basis.
Fifth, every economic sector as well as human activity must produce low or, if possible, zero carbon emissions and waste.
Sixth, minimize the use of fossil fuels and simultaneously use renewable energy including solar energy, wind power, wave energy, tidal energy, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) and biofuel from marine algae and seagrasses.
Seventh, conserve biodiversity at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.
Eighth, pollution control by applying zero-waste technology, “3 R” (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) technology, or waste water treatment plants.
Ninth, design and contruction activities in coastal and ocean areas should be in accordance with the structure, characteristics and dynamic of any given unit of a coastal and ocean zone.
Tenth, apply mitigation and adaptation measures for global climate change, tsunamis, storms and other natural hazards.
Eleventh, ensure that all people are able to meet their basic human needs; i.e. food, clothing, housing, health, education and transportation.
Twelfth, increase access of local communities to technology, infrastructure, capital, markets, information and other prodcutive economic assets.
Last, build capacity for local communities and strengthen institutions.
By implementing the blue economy, coastal and ocean development will not only allow Indonesia to address its chronic unemployment and poverty problems, but also contribute significantly to the realization of an advanced and prosperous Indonesia by 2025. ●
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