Advancing the Sustainable Blue Economy in ASEAN Region

About the blue economy 

The blue economy is a relatively new but influential concept that emerged in the lead-up to the 2012 UN conference on sustainable development. The blue economy is a sustainable development model which looks to the ocean to provide new economic opportunities, poverty alleviation, food security, and sustainable livelihoods in ways that maintain the integrity of ocean ecosystems functions. It provides a strategic policy framework through which multiple sustainable development objectives can be achieved. 

A review of Blue Economy regional strategies across the world conducted by ANCORS for UNEP including the ASEAN region shows that there is no unified blue economy definition, instead, it is defined and enacted in a range of ways, reflecting differences in socio-cultural, economic, environmental and governance settings and objectives. Importantly, however, regional blue economy strategies share common principles and elements, which are consistent with the SDGs including: 

• The recognition of the ocean as an important driver for national and regional sustainable development and innovation
• The importance of key principles such as ocean health, sustainability, equity and inclusiveness, and resilience,
• The need for a strategic blue economy cross-sectoral policy framework, governance arrangements, and integrated ocean management approaches to achieve blue economy multiple objectives.

Blue economy in the ASEAN region   

The ASEAN Blue Economy declaration 

The ASEAN declaration for Blue Economy adopted in October 2021 aligns with other regional declarations and strategies. Principles and elements of the declaration can be grouped under 4 categories:  

• Efficient, sustainable, and resilient socio-economic development
• A focus on food security, livelihoods opportunities, equity, and inclusiveness,
• The protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystem services to reduce ocean risks and build climate and disaster resilience, and
• The need for an enabling environment to mainstream blue economy multiple objectives in national and regional development policies and investment plans; strengthen regional cooperation on maritime security (including IUU), trans boundary ocean resource management, research and innovation, socio-cultural and knowledge exchange, and monitoring and reporting across government and stakeholders.

The ASEAN declaration is an important driver toward blue economy development in ASEAN member countries fostering enhanced national policy coherence, more efficient use of resources, and a clear signal to public and private investors on the region’s Blue Economy priorities. 

Blue economy development in ASEAN member countries 

ASEAN countries are signatories to key international agreements, such as the UN convention on the law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UN sustainable development goals, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate change, as well as a range of ocean-related regional agreements including the 2017 IORA Jakarta Declaration, The 2014 APEC Xiamen Declaration, The 2012 PEMSEA Changwon Declaration. However, the blue economy is at different stages of development among ASEAN members.  

A review of blue economy development in ASEAN members conducted by ANCORS identified four broad stages of blue economy development, none (stage 1), limited (stage 2), partial (stage 3), and full development (stage 4) based on nine criteria listed in figure 1. These preliminary findings are based on available information and they would benefit from the webinar participants' validation and updates. This brief review does however provide a useful snapshot as well as a starting point for dialogue and exchange of experiences amongst ASEAN countries.

Transitioning to a blue economy: a national approach 

The ASEAN declaration guiding principles and key elements combined with the unique circumstances and strategic priorities of individual ASEAN members, will shape the scope and process of transitioning to a national blue economy development. Moving from concept to policy development to implementation requires commitment time and resources. Guidance is available to those countries interested in pursuing a blue economy agenda.  

The UNEP Blue Economy Transition Framework offers a step wise guidance that can be used by ASEAN member countries to advance blue economy development should they decide to. The Framework proposes 4 stages from policy development to implementation and review (Figure 2).

The UNEP Rapid Readiness Assessment (RRA) tool supports the transition framework and provides a structured approach to understand the status of the enabling environment in which blue economy development can take place.  Areas explored include leadership status, institutional arrangements for whole of government coordination, relevant laws and policies, stakeholder engagement and partnerships, availability of finance, monitoring and reporting responsibilities and information management systems. The RRA also provides countries with baseline knowledge, and a process to discuss possible policy gaps and impediments such as possible conflicts, finance availability, or capacity needs. 

Purpose of the webinars 

A series of webinars are proposed as a means through which ASEAN countries can share information and knowledge about blue economy implementation and work towards a shared approach. This first webinar aims to introduce the concept of the blue economy and discuss the different ways it is being enacted in the region. It has the following objectives:  

• Develop a common understanding of the Blue Economy and underlying principles of sustainability, equity and resilience to guide national blue economy development
• Identify ASEAN members national priorities for blue economy development and shared priorities which an ASEAN regional programme could assist with 
• Introduce the UNEP Blue Economy Transition framework as tool countries can use for blue economy development consistent with ASEAN blue economy declaration and existing regional agreements.

The second webinar will build on the outcomes of the first and will begin to explore the ways in which a shared approach the blue economy might be developed in accordance with the ASEAN leaders’ declaration. 

Opening 

• Welcome remarks – by H.E. Mr. Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, ASEAN

Session 2: Blue economy in the ASEAN region 

• Keynote Presentation – Status of ASEAN level discussions on Sustainable Blue Economy, Mr. Garry Ibrahim, Director-General, ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei Darussalam
• Presentation – Introduction to Blue Economy, Ms. Dominique Benzaken, Blue Economy Advisor and Ph.D. candidate ANCORS, University of Wollongong
• Presentation – Sustainable Blue Economy Transition Framework (prerecorded), Mr. Ole Vestergaard, Sustainable Blue Economy Initiative, Ecosystems Division, UNEP

Session 3: Blue economy priorities and needs 

Group discussion outcomes

• Group 1
• Group 2
• Group 3
• Group 4

Session Recordings