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The role of voluntary commitments in realizing the promise of the Blue Economy
Citation
Voyer, M and Allison, EH and Farmery, A and Fabinyi, M and Steenbergen, D and van Putten, I and Song, AM and Ogier, E and Benzaken, D and Andrew, N, The role of voluntary commitments in realizing the promise of the Blue Economy, Global Environmental Change. Part A, 71 Article 102372. ISSN 0959-3780 (2021) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102372
Abstract
Voluntary (or non-binding) commitments offer an action-oriented mechanism for addressing interconnected, complex and pressing issues. Though not designed to replace negotiated or binding outcomes, voluntary commitments can offer a critical tool in currently ungoverned or under-governed systems. The Blue Economy is an example of a rapidly evolving agenda where formal governance arrangements are at best nascent, in part due to the trans-border nature of issues and prominent involvement of multiple types of actors. As such voluntary commitments provide an important mechanism through which to monitor the evolution of the concept and identify gaps or shortfalls in its implementation. Our analysis of global voluntary commitments on the Blue Economy made to recent high-profile ocean futures meetings, found a trend towards capacity development, research, and investment in emerging and larger scale sectors such as offshore aquaculture and renewable energy. A concurrent focus was on securitizing, regulating or diverting effort from historically significant fisheries sectors. European organizations are playing a dominant role in Blue Economy commitments, with a notable absence of commitments from major Blue Economy powers such as China and India. We identify a number of gaps and shortfalls, particularly in relation to active consideration of social equity in the Blue Economy. We identify a range of recommendations on how these deficiencies may be addressed through a greater focus on a broader suite of objectives and a more inclusive approach to ocean meetings.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | voluntary commitments, blue economy, sustainable development goals, ocean governance, small Island developing states |
| Research Division: | Economics |
| Research Group: | Applied economics |
| Research Field: | Public economics - publicly provided goods |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards |
| Objective Group: | Environmental policy, legislation and standards |
| Objective Field: | Environmental protection frameworks (incl. economic incentives) |
| UTAS Author: | Farmery, A (Ms Anna Farmery) |
| UTAS Author: | van Putten, I (Dr Ingrid Van Putten) |
| UTAS Author: | Ogier, E (Dr Emily Ogier) |
| ID Code: | 148488 |
| Year Published: | 2021 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 1 |
| Deposited By: | Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration |
| Deposited On: | 2022-01-14 |
| Last Modified: | 2022-03-10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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