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Side event convened by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, the Government of Jamaica and the Stimson Center

This side event will bring together representatives from the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel), CORVI (the Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Index) and leading global experts. They will share insights on building resilience in the blue tourism sector and across coastal cities and SIDS.

The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) established a goal that by 2030: “Coastal and ocean-based tourism is sustainable, resilient, addresses climate change, reduces pollution, supports ecosystem regeneration and biodiversity conservation and invests in local jobs and communities.”

The tourism industry is one of the largest and fastest growing sectors of the ocean economy. Before the global pandemic, tourism was the second largest ocean economy supporting millions of jobs and livelihoods worldwide.

The global pandemic revealed the fragility of the tourism industry and the need for resilient coastal communities in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal Least Developed Countries (LDCs). For SIDS, the economic value of tourism represents on average 30% of GDP, twice as high as the global average. The long-term resilience of destinations and the communities that rely on tourism revenue as a key aspect of their ocean economy will benefit greatly from the implementation of reimagined tourism models that are sustainable, regenerative, and capable of managing and adapting to imminent and future crises, such as climate change, disruptions to traditional travel patterns, and shifting population patterns.

To implement a new resilient model of coastal and marine tourism, decision makers will require a comprehensive understanding of the economic, environmental, and social risks associated with climate change and other crises. CORVI, (the Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Index), developed by the Stimson Center, organizes data and information across the land and seascape to provide that complete picture of the risks facing SIDS and coastal LDCs. The data-driven city-specific risk profile provided by CORVI helps stakeholders identify, prioritize, and advocate for the actions needed to strengthen coastal resilience. Currently operating in eleven cities around the world, CORVI has been used by city and national governments along with other stakeholders to inform their adaptation planning.

This session will bring together representatives from the Ocean Panel, CORVI and leading global experts to share insights on how to build the resilience of coastal and marine tourism and coastal cities.

Run of Show:

Welcome

  • Sally Yozell, Senior Fellow and Director, Environmental Security Program, Stimson Center (Moderator)

Keynote Address

  • Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister for Tourism, Jamaica

Findings and recommendations from the Special Report and associated Expert Perspectives

  • Nicola Frost, Deputy Head of Secretariat, High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy

Moderated Panel Discussion

  • Hon. Steven Victor, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, Palau
  • H.E. Dr. Satyendra Prasad, Permanent Representative for Fiji and Ambassador to the UN
  • Dr. Hide Sakaguchi, President, Ocean Policy Research Institute of The Sasakawa Peace Foundation
  • Valerie Hickey, Global Director, Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice, World Bank
  • Carolina Mendonça, Azores Destination Management Organization (DMO) Coordinator

Q&A with Panel

Closing Remarks