Blue Future Conference on the Blue Economy and Climate Action in Africa: Island and Coastal States at the forefront

Moroni, Union of the Comoros hosted the Blue Future Conference, a significant Ministerial meeting that took place between June 12th and 14th, 2023. The event placed particular emphasis on analyzing the unique characteristics of states located on islands, within a broader context. The objective of the initiative is to facilitate a synchronized and dependable investment and financial strategy for African Union member states, ensuring the successful execution of the Great Blue Wall Initiative.

Seychelles was represented by Minister Flavien Joubert, Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment, along with Mrs. Cindy Clair, Chief Programme Coordinator for the Programme Development and Coordination Section (PDCS) at the Department of Climate Change, Mr. Abel Sorry, Principal Research Officer, and Miss Evita Auguste, Policy Analyst from the Department of Blue Economy.

The conference aimed to achieve the following objectives:

• Reinforce the political dedication of the coastal states of Africa’s islands and Western Indian Ocean to the Great Blue Wall and expedite its execution.
• Showcasing the significance of the Blue Economy in Africa to foster its sustainable growth and, promote knowledge exchange and teamwork among stakeholders in the blue economy to foster innovative methods for sustainable development.
• Highlighting the significance of the Blue Economy for Africa as crucial in bolstering its sustainable progress and development and promote knowledge exchange and teamwork among blue economy actors towards innovative and sustainable development strategies.

At the conference, various organizations gave presentations and interventions on diverse topics related to the Blue Economy. These topics encompassed the trade possibilities that arise from it, the trends of climate change, and discussions on the Great Blue Wall initiative. During the conference, a multitude of organizations delivered captivating presentations and insightful interventions on a wide range of topics concerning the Blue Economy. The discussions revolved around the trading opportunities that accompany it, the patterns of climate change, and talks concerning the Great Blue Wall initiative.

The second part of the convention was graced by eminent representatives from different African nations, with a particular focus on SIDS. The event led to the adoption of the Moroni Declaration, which highlights the significance of the Great Blue Wall.

The African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) collaborated to facilitate the event.