29 April 2011: The informal interactive workshop on “Keeping the Green Economy Blue” convened on 29 April 2011, at UN Headquarters, New York, US. Co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Australia and the Pew Environment Group, the workshop responded to the emerging consensus that healthy oceans are an essential part of the green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and as such should figure prominently in the agenda of the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20).

The workshop: assessed the current state of the oceans and marine environment; reviewed the commitments made at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and at the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD); and considered social and economic implications and policy recommendations for transitioning to a “blue economy.”

The workshop consisted of presentations by expert panelists and interactive audience discussions. It was attended by over 70 representatives from government, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. [IISD RS coverage]