Integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation in Blue Economy planning in Africa

Abstract

There are strong interdependencies between the Blue Economy (BE) and the effects of climate change. This paper examines how the coastal and island African countries with strategies and action plans related to the BE have integrated climate change mitigation and adaptation in their national BE approach. It explores the methods they have adopted for climate change mitigation and adaptation, based on their BE strategies and nationally determined contributions (NDC) submissions. The paper also looks at the connections and synergies between these climate change actions and the BE plans of these countries. The key areas explored are (1) activities to reduce GHG emissions specifically using blue energy and reduction in maritime transport emissions and (2) activities with primary carbon sequestration benefits, as well as resilience co-benefits such as protection of marine and coastal environments, rehabilitation and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems, and seaweed aquaculture. Across Africa, climate change is integrated into the BE strategies or action plans to varying degrees. Of the twelve countries with official BE strategies or action plans in place, only three recognise the severity of climate change and have practical activities for mitigation and adaptation prioritised in their BE action plans. Overall, the primary drivers for growth in the BE are more focused on meeting economic and social demands rather than on ecological and environmental needs. The strategies assessed are not synergised and still largely exist in silos, as are the BE strategies or action plans and the NDCs. Where climate change is integrated, the BE strategies and action plans are far more focused on climate change adaptation and resilience responses compared to mitigation responses. Improved understanding of the climate change responses themselves and of their synergistic effects with the BE is needed in order for them to be integrated in a meaningful and impactful way. Given the increasing drive to develop BE strategies and plans across Africa, largely driven by regional bodies, this work highlights the need for potential BE strategies to harness the synergies between adaptation, mitigation, growth, and development and explore the potential of initiating positively reinforcing cycles of benefits.