The World Ocean Summit 2015 will be held under the theme ''Blue economy; blue growth'' in Lisbon, Portugal from 3-5 June, 2015.
The ‘blue economy’ is nascent and not yet clearly defined, but it offers a vision of the ocean and coasts as a new source of economic growth, job creation and investment. Viewed narrowly, this could simply mean the beginning of a new and intensified phase of conventional economic activity. Yet a more expansive interpretation sees a blue economy in which economic opportunity is balanced by responsible investment in a sustainable ocean economy— a ‘win-win’ scenario where the private sector, acting through enlightened self-interest, is a catalyst for both economic development and environmental protection. In this vision, the blue economy is in itself a source of opportunity, investment and growth.
The Economist Events' third World Ocean Summit, chaired by John Micklethwait, Editor-in-Chief, The Economist, ambitiously aims to set a new global agenda for the ocean economy. The World Ocean Summit will convene more than 250 global leaders from various sectors with direct interests in the oceans and igniting a constructive dialogue on solution. Ahead of the summit, John Micklethwait, Editor-in-Chief, The Economist, said ''Ocean issues affect billions of people, in ways that bring together business, politics, academia and science.”
