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Bridging Knowledge Gaps towards 2030: The Use of Foresight for the Strategic Management of a Sustainable Blue Economy

Author

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  • Lisa A. Pace

    (The Edward de Bono Institute for Creative Thinking and Innovation, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, Malta)

  • Kristian Borch

    (Department of Planning, University of Aalborg, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark)

  • Alan Deidun

    (Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, Malta)

Abstract

There is need to better understand the trends and future challenges influencing the marine and coastal environments and identify the opportunities to develop innovative sustainability-oriented solutions to address these. Alongside mainstream decision support tools used in environmental management and conservation sciences, foresight techniques provide comprehensive and well-rounded information and knowledge about likely developments in the long-term future. This study uses a horizon scanning exercise to explore emerging signals and trends of future developments and innovation for the sustainable development of the blue economy looking towards 2030. It derives a series of global developments, challenges and opportunities relating to the blue economy from a review of high-level international reports and studies. Through a workshop conducted with 29 scientists and researchers based in maritime universities in six countries in Europe, the study identifies and prioritizes emerging signals and trends considered of high impact for a sustainability transition. The outputs include a synthesis of 11 global developments in the blue economy and 7 cross-cutting trends and trend projections. These may be valuable to marine scientists as a source of inspiration for a future research agenda or can be used as evidence for decision- and policymakers to deal with future uncertainties about the growth of the blue economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa A. Pace & Kristian Borch & Alan Deidun, 2023. "Bridging Knowledge Gaps towards 2030: The Use of Foresight for the Strategic Management of a Sustainable Blue Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:13:p:10026-:d:1178576
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer Elston & Hugo Pinto & Carla Nogueira, 2024. "Tides of Change for a Sustainable Blue Economy: A Systematic Literature Review of Innovation in Maritime Activities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-27, December.

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