Port Cities and the Blue Economy

Description

The blue economy holds considerable potential for Africa, estimated at over $1 trillion annually by 2063 according to projections by the African Union Commission. Its sustainability depends directly on the quality of maritime transport, the resilience of coastal infrastructure, and the health of marine ecosystems. African ports handle more than 90% of the continent’s foreign trade. They are both the most exposed to climate risks (storms, flooding, sea-level rise) and the most important drivers for decarbonizing the continent’s logistics chains. In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a revised maritime decarbonization strategy aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, with a reduction of at least 40% in emissions by 2030 compared to 2008.

In this regard, city-port interfaces are particularly sensitive areas. They bring together logistics infrastructure, dense urban neighborhoods, economic activities, and often fragile natural ecosystems. This convergence of issues poses major challenges in terms of mobility, urban planning, climate resilience, plastic pollution, and quality of life for residents.

The workshop’s objective is: 

• to explore governance issues related to port-city interfaces and coordination between port policies, urban mobility policies, land-use policies, social inclusion policies, and climate policies;
• to illustrate how to better harness the potential of digital innovations, particularly for transit documents or regulating access to infrastructure;
• to demonstrate how African ports can become green ports while remaining competitive and contributing to the development of a blue economy (decarbonization, energy mix, local production… hydrogen or electric charging) and a resilient economy, combining the protection of marine and aquatic environments with a new vision of sustainable economic development, sustainable mobility, ecological transition, and integrated territorial governance.
• Why and how to preserve coastlines, deltas, lagoons, and their biodiversity while maintaining maritime traffic and meeting transportation needs. 

Speakers

• Luc GNACADJA, Mayor of Cotonou, Benin
• Dago Alain GOHOMENDE, Director, CREMPOL (Abidjan Maritime, Port and Logistics Research Centre)
• Cissé NAKARIDJA, Mayor of San Pédro, Côte d’Ivoire

Moderator: Phénicia KOUAME, President, ASN Africa