Ocean Decade meets Mission Ocean. Blue skills for a sustainable blue economy - Blauwe vaardigheden voor een duurzame blauwe economie. Report of the Belgian EU presidency event, 25 April 2024, Oostende-Belgium, organized by VUC – VLIZ - VLEVA, May 2024
VLIZ (2024). Ocean Decade meets Mission Ocean. Blue skills for a sustainable blue economy - Blauwe vaardigheden voor een duurzame blauwe economie. Report of the Belgian EU presidency event, 25 April 2024, Oostende-Belgium, organized by VUC – VLIZ - VLEVA, May 2024. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. 22 pp.
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| Abstract |
The event 'Ocean Decade Meets Mission Ocean: Blue skills for a sustainable economy' explored what skills we need to develop a sustainable blue economy. In 2021, the UN General Assembly kicked off the 'Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development' (2021-2030) to boost transformative ocean science to address the grand societal challenges by 2030. At the start of the EU Framework for Research and Innovation ‘Horizon Europe’ (2021-2027), the EU DG for Research & Innovation launched its ‘sister’ initiative Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030' that aims to protect and restore the health of European ocean and waters. One of the transversal elements in both programmes underlines the importance of highly skilled workforce and the relevance of ‘blue skills’ for the future sustainable blue economy. The present event brought together 65 experts from academia and research, public administration, industry leaders and civil society to exchange knowledge and strengthen collaboration on 'blue skills'. 'Blue skills' emphasizes the importance of a basic knowledge for professionals about the interaction between ocean-climate-ecosystems to enable the transition to a sustainable, resilient, and socially just development model. The participants explored the existing infrastructures, capacities, innovative solutions, and policy instruments and examined how capacities, talents and skills can be developed optimally for a successful transition. |
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