At present, according to official data presented by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Transport (UNCTAD), more than 90% of world trade is transported by sea.
Unfortunately, this method of transport generates about 13% of annual nitrogen oxide emissions and about 12% of sulphur oxide emissions, making it thousands of times more polluting than road transport.
These data demonstrate, once again, that both private companies and public administrations must put climate change at the forefront and take all necessary measures to promote the sustainability of the sector.
Indeed, the negative consequences of climate change are driving governments to take immediate action to ensure that we do not reach a point of no return. On 28 September, for example, World Maritime Day was celebrated, this year marking the 50th anniversary of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
This convention, promoted by the United Nations, has the main objective of reducing the sources of pollution from ships in the marine environment, both operational and accidental.
What is the blue economy and how is it impacting the sector?
In recent years, business sectors that operate in oceans, seas and coasts, such as transport companies or tourism companies, have increased their investment in sustainable practices in order to reduce the environmental impact that can result from their presence in the planet's blue zones.
Following the publication of the book "The Blue Economy", written by the economist Gunter Pauli, the term "blue economy" became popular, which basically proposes sustainable ways of working.
This has guided many companies in the logistics and transport sector to adopt new production processes that are in line with nature's needs and that use existing resources or whose production does not have a negative impact on the seas and oceans.
The Blue Economy, as explained by the government on its websiteis based on the Europe 2020 Strategy, "which is based on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as a way to overcome the structural weaknesses of the European economy, to improve its competitiveness and to underpin a sustainable social market economy, one of its objectives being the promotion of Research and Technological Development (R&D)".
Thanks to this, the Blue Economy was introduced from an innovative perspective to generate sources of growth and employment. "With the importance of an integrated approach to maritime issues to enhance Europe's capacity in the sustainable use of oceans, seas and coasts".
Is the blue economy the same as the green economy?
The term blue economy should not be confused with the green economy, as although they have aspects in common, they are not really the same. The main difference that helps to understand how the two concepts differ is that while the green economy involves greater investment by companies, which is consequently passed on to the end customer, the blue economy refers to the use of available resources without increasing costs.
As explained by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Blue Economy encompasses all economic activities that depend on the sea. "The different sectors that make up the Blue Economy are interdependent (fisheries, aquaculture and marine biotechnology, tourism, shipping and maritime transport, among others), as they are based on common competences and shared infrastructures (such as ports, logistics networks and electricity distribution) and on the sustainable use of marine resources.
What is Blue Growth and why should we be aware of this term?
Once we have understood what the blue economy is, what its origin is and what its objective is, it is necessary to understand a concept that is increasingly on everyone's lips and to which companies that develop their activity in the logistics and logistics sector are increasingly turning to. maritime transport are increasingly attracting more and more interest: Blue Growth.
"Blue Growth is a long-term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors that recognises the importance of the oceans and seas as drivers of the European economy because of their great potential for innovation and growth," the Ministry of Agriculture explains on its website.
Such is the importance of this term that the Ministry of Transport, Fisheries and Food, through the General Secretariat for Fisheries, provides the sector with an information and training service with the latest news on the subject, as well as calls for aid for the financing of projects related to Blue Growth. One more fact that ratifies the need for transport and logistics companies to work in line with sustainability.
But what is the difference between Blue Economy and Blue Growth?
Although many people and organisations still confuse the two concepts and think that they are the same, they should not be thought of as synonymous. Blue growth is the method for achieving the blue economy, but they are not the same thing.
According to the study "Blue Growth as an application of the Blue Economy: studies and implementations", elaborated by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, "we can say that the Blue Economy is the sum of activities related to the coast, the sea and the oceans", while Blue Growth, according to the European Commission itself, is defined as "smart and sustainable growth from the oceans, seas and coasts".
Bearing these references in mind, in order to avoid confusing the two concepts, and as the study specifies, it should be understood that "the Blue Economy is more than the sum of economic activities, as these have to be directed towards a more sustainable use of ocean resources and the growth of society as a whole. Blue Growth, on the other hand, summarises all the initiatives and projects that are being carried out to achieve this economic model".
