Description:

The New Blue Economy encompasses the development of ocean and Great Lakes observing technologies, the use of these technologies to capture environmental data, and the application of environmental information services to the delivery of societal or economic benefits. Perhaps nowhere is this knowledge-based economy more important than at our coasts. The collection and application of coastal observations is critical to address the grand societal challenges that exist along our coastlines. These challenges are many, including: how to harness ocean and Great Lakes resources for economic growth while addressing environmental health, the understanding and protection of ecosystem services, and coastal risk assessment for factors like sea level rise and coastal flooding. Further, a thriving New Blue Economy must address these challenges while considering the core tenets of social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic viability. In this session we invite submissions that provide examples for how the coastal New Blue Economy delivers societal and economic benefits. Of particular interest are use cases demonstrating the societal or economic value of coastal environmental data and information to coastal decision making and coastal economic activity, while ensuring resilience of coastal communities and the protection of the coastal environment.