Energy · Travel
The South Island gateway was named Large Airport of the Year while its Kōwhai Park project earned the Sustainability Initiative award. KEY TAKEAWAYS Christchurch Airport won Large Airport of the Year and Sustainability Initiative of the Year at the 2026 NZ Airports Awards. The airport served 6.85 million passengers during the financial year ended June... Read the full news article
Oct 21 · 17:25·Travel PR News
SaaS · Energy
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, is returning as Lead Sponsor of Lagos Fashion Week 2026, reaffirming its commitment to empowering Africa’s creative industries as engines of inclusive economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.
Africa’s fashion industry holds significant potential to drive economic diversification, expand employment opportunities and strengthen the continent’s participation in global value chains. However, unlocking this potential requires more than creative talent. Investment by institutions such as AFC, in infrastructure, productive capacity, local manufacturing and access to capital, is essential to enabling African fashion businesses to scale, compete internationally and capture greater value within the continent.
AFC’s return builds on the success of its inaugural partnership with Lagos Fashion Week in 2025, which included a joint event with its investee company, ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP), bringing together approximately 300 participants to explore the relationship between African fashion, industrialisation, local manufacturing and value addition. The engagement highlighted the importance of connecting the continent’s creative talent with the industrial infrastructure and production capabilities required to build competitive fashion and textile value chains.
Building on this foundation, AFC’s participation in Lagos Fashion Week 2026 will focus on the investment and financing requirements for a more sustainable and climate-resilient African fashion industry. In collaboration with AFC Capital Partners, the Corporation will convene a panel discussion titled “OFF THE RUNWAY: Financing a Sustainable African Fashion Industry in a Changing Climate.” The session will bring together leaders from fashion, energy, sustainability and investment to explore how infrastructure, innovative financing and more resilient production systems can support the growth of Nigeria’s fashion industry, with lessons for the wider African market.
“Africa’s creative industries embody both our cultural pride and our economic promise. Through this renewed partnership with Lagos Fashion Week 2026, we are advancing AFC’s commitment to turn that promise into measurable impact—supporting the full fashion value chain to empower the youth, strengthen local manufacturing, and drive value addition on the continent,” said Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC. “By building critical infrastructure that underpins these creative value chains, AFC is ensuring that Africa’s designers and manufacturers can compete on a truly global stage,” he added.
Lagos Fashion Week has established itself as a globally recognised platform showcasing African design, creativity and innovation. AFC’s continued partnership reflects the importance of connecting this creative strength with the infrastructure, investment and industrial capabilities needed to build a more competitive and sustainable African fashion industry.
Omoyemi Akerele, Founder of Lagos Fashion Week said, “We are delighted to welcome African Fashion Corporation back as a key partner for Lagos Fashion Week 2026. Their focus this season speaks to the spirit of the African Fashion Coalition Manifesto and two of its central pillars: Community Led Creation and Inclusive Prosperity, and Circularity. Both recognise that community, resourcefulness and regeneration are not emerging trends, but foundations upon which African fashion has long been built. This partnership reinforces our continued commitment to the Manifesto’s vision of an African fashion industry that preserves indigenous knowledge, strengthens local production, creates shared economic value and builds a regenerative future rooted in our communities.”
AFC’s continued partnership with Lagos Fashion Week builds on its wider engagement across Africa’s creative landscape, including most recently, the launch of its ARD South Residency, a fully supported 3-month artist-in-residence program for young African artists, organized in collaboration with the ARD Art Institution in Cairo. These collaborations reflect the Corporation’s commitment to supporting the entrepreneurs, innovators and businesses contributing to Africa’s economic transformation. Through its investments in critical infrastructure and strategic sectors, AFC continues to support industrial development, strengthen local value chains and unlock opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth across the continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).
Media Enquiries:
yewande.thorpe@africafc.org
About AFC:
Nineteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 49 member countries and has invested over US$20 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.
www.AfricaFC.org
Oct 21 · 16:56·APO Group
Finance · Food & drink
CHICAGO, Oct. 21, 2026 -- Mérieux NutriSciences, a global leader in food safety, quality, and sustainability, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Certified Group. First announced in August 2026, this strategic transaction unites two complementary...
Oct 21 · 15:00·PR Newswire
Finance · Media
The Government of Kenya and The Nature Conservancy Unveil US$160m Thamani Asili Community Conservation Initiative
Wed, 10/21/2026 - 11:30
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A national conservation initiative to improve livelihoods, strengthen community leadership and benefit millions of Kenyans.
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TAITA TAVETA, Kenya, October 21, 2026 - The Government of Kenya, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Enduring Earth, today unveiled the Thamani Asili Project Finance for Permanence (PFP), a US$160 million landmark national initiative designed to secure long-term financing for conservation needed to conserve Kenya’s natural heritage while supporting community livelihoods, water security, climate resilience, sustainable economic growth and the world-renowned wildlife tourism sector.
Launched by Hon. Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Thamani Asili signals a new chapter in how Kenya finances conservation, shifting from short-term project funding to a long-term investment in the country’s people, wildlife and natural resources. The initiative is expected to directly benefit around 1.6 million people, while a further 3.9 million people could benefit from stronger land governance, effective natural resource management and expanded economic opportunities linked to nature.
Central to the ethos of Thamani Asili (‘‘value of nature” in Kiswahili) is placing communities at the heart of collaborative environmental and development efforts, recognising that long-term conservation success depends upon the wellbeing and leadership of local people.
Opportunities enabled by Thamani Asili will include ecological tourism, sustainable grazing, carbon programs and other nature-based businesses that support household incomes. Within the landscapes supported by the initiative, these investments are expected to create around 7,800 direct jobs plus a further 15,000 indirect jobs, benefiting up to 80,000 people through new livelihoods and business opportunities.
At its core, Thamani Asili supports conservation led by communities. It strengthens local governance, supports land-use planning and ensures that people living alongside wildlife can benefit directly while managing natural resources sustainably. It also supports practical measures to reduce human wildlife conflict, including improved livestock protection and land management approaches.
Building on TNC's past experience of supporting multiple other PFP projects with national governments including those of Gabon and Mongolia, the initiative recognises the extent to which Kenya’s economy depends on nature. By investing in conservation, the country is also supporting jobs, economic growth and long-term resilience for crucial sectors including agriculture, tourism and water.
Over the next decade, Thamani Asili will help conserve ~17.3 million hectares of territory, supporting Kenya’s goal of conserving 30 percent of its lands, inland waters and near-shore ecosystems. This includes establishing ~2.7 million hectares of conserved areas, in partnership with communities and other stakeholders.
The initiative will also improve the management of ~11 million hectares of existing conservation areas, while enabling the conditions needed for communities to better manage another ~6 million hectares.
Thamani Asili is also expected to drive climate progress, In line with Kenya's commitments to the Paris Agreement, by helping avoid ~7.5 million tons of carbon emissions by 2035.
As the third PFP in Africa, Thamani Asili is designed to mobilise US$ 80 million from philanthropy, with the Government of Kenya expected to match this with an equivalent US$ 80 million over 10 years.
“Conserving nature creates opportunities, strengthens livelihoods and honours the cultures and heritage of the people who live alongside wildlife. Through Thamani Asili, we are strengthening the partnership between Government, conservation institutions and communities to ensure that the value of our natural heritage translates into lasting benefits for our people. Our commitment is clear: to protect our wildlife, empower communities and build a future where both people and nature thrive together.” Hon. Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife.
“Conservation is not just about protecting wildlife; it is about protecting a way of life, honouring the cultures and heritage of our communities, and securing a future where people and wildlife thrive together. When elephants and livestock drink from the same water points, we are reminded that we share one landscape and one responsibility. Our communities are not separate from conservation; they are its heart. Together, we must ensure that the people who live alongside wildlife are not only its custodians but also beneficiaries of its value. Because when communities thrive, wildlife thrives, and our natural heritage lives on for generations to come.” Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service, Prof. Erustus Kanga
Ruth Masha, Country Director for Kenya at The Nature Conservancy, said:
“We know that when communities lead, conservation can deliver lasting results. Thamani Asili strengthens community rights, voices and decision-making over land and resources, so people can conserve the places they depend on while also improving livelihoods, creating jobs and building stronger, more resilient local economies for the future.”
Thamani Asili will be implemented through a long-term plan that brings together conservation, communities and financing. It will be administered by the Thamani Asili Fund for Kenya, a newly created independent conservation trust fund responsible for managing and disbursing donor funding to the PFP and tracking progress.
Initial efforts will focus on four priority landscapes across the country: Tsavo to Coastal, Greater Ewaso, Greater Rift to Western, and Southern Kenya. These areas are critical for biodiversity, water security and livelihoods, and are central to Kenya’s conservation and development goals.
Thamani Asili supports Kenya’s Vision 2030, the country’s long-term development blueprint, national climate commitments and global biodiversity targets. It sets out a practical way to protect nature while strengthening livelihoods and supporting long-term economic growth.
It represents the tenth PFP initiative so far supported by Enduring Earth, a bold collaboration founded in 2020 by The Nature Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts, World Wildlife Fund, and ZOMA LAB, with expanded support from Bezos Earth Fund and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Thamani Asili anticipates key financial support from dozens of donors, including Daniel C. Chung, Dennis and Connie Keller, Jan and Emily Hammer, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, Mary Anne Rogers, Palladium Foundation, Red Crane Foundation, Richard Rosen and Anna-Marie Pavlik, Rob Walton Foundation, Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust, Sally Liu, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Scott and Roxanne Bok, Stephanie March and Dan Benton, Stuart and Joanna Brown, TNC Scale Up Fund.
About TNC: The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.
Enduring Earth is a bold collaboration founded in 2020 by The Nature Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts, World Wildlife Fund, and ZOMA LAB, with expanded support from Bezos Earth Fund and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Enduring Earth partners with governments, communities, Indigenous peoples, and funders to accelerate conservation and sustainable development, address biodiversity loss, secure durable financing, and enhance economic growth, using the PFP model. Since its launch, Enduring Earth has worked with local partners to durably conserve a total of more than 282 million hectares of lands and waters in Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Gabon, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia, and Namibia, and secure US$2.1 billion in sustainable finance for nature and people.
Media contacts:
US: Rachel Winters / rwinters@tnc.org
Kenya/Africa: Victor Nyambok / victor.nyambok@tnc.org
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Press Release
Oct 21 · 14:48·3BL Media
Healthcare · Media
SOBX2 and Green Bronx Machine Announce Strategic Partnership To Expand National Impact
Wed, 10/21/2026 - 10:45
Subheader
Partnership will help GROW awareness and access to award-winning agricultural education, curriculum, and growing technology for schools and communities nationwide.
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NEW YORK, October 21, 2026 - Green Bronx Machine (GBM) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with SOBX2 Strategic Operations & Business Consulting to help GROW the national reach and impact of its award-winning agricultural education curriculum, resources, and innovative growing technologies.
Founded in 2011 by educator Stephen Ritz, Green Bronx Machine has grown from an innovative school-based program in the South Bronx into a nationally and internationally recognized model for using food, agriculture, and hands-on learning to strengthen students, schools, and communities. Green Bronx Machine's approach goes far beyond growing vegetables. Its comprehensive model, including acclaimed whole-school curriculum, incorporates the art and science of growing food as the point of entry for all learning. Their unique project-based learning model connects food cultivation and preparation, science and academic learning, health and wellness, life skills, and workforce development—helping students better understand where food comes from while developing healthier and more meaningful relationships with food.
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Today, Green Bronx Machine's K–12+ model integrates urban agriculture into standards-based academic instruction while supporting healthier students, stronger schools, and more resilient communities in over 1,100 schools across the nation, with 100% teacher satisfaction. Green Bronx Machine was named a “Top Ten Health and Wellness Program in the Nation” by the Harkin Institute and a Fast Company Most Innovative Company. Recently dubbed “The Miracle in the Bronx” by New York Weekly, the new partnership will make its public debut at The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) NYC Conference on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the New York Hilton Midtown. Through this strategic partnership, SOBX2 will bring its extensive experience in institutional management, strategic planning, school foodservice, partnerships, business development, and operational improvement to support Green Bronx Machine's continued growth.
"Green Bronx Machine demonstrates what is possible when food, education, health, and community development come together," said Stephen O'Brien, Founder and President of SOBX2. "This partnership is about helping more schools and communities discover these incredible resources and giving educators practical tools to connect students with food, agriculture, learning, and future opportunities. We are excited to help GROW something greater."
Aligned to the conference theme “Leading with Purpose: Innovate, Engage, Transform,” together, SOBX2 and Green Bronx Machine will work to increase awareness of Green Bronx Machine's curriculum, educational resources, growing technologies, and whole-school approach while identifying opportunities to bring the model to additional schools, districts, institutions, and communities across the country.
“We could not be more excited about this partnership, and we welcome Stephen to the Bronx with open arms, open minds, open ears, and grateful hearts, ready and eager to work with him,” states Lizette B. Ritz, Executive Director of Green Bronx Machine. She adds, “Stephen O’Brien is the ultimate professional, in a class by himself, bringing decades of proven leadership and experience, in the largest school system in America, in our own backyard, to the front and center of our organization. His experience and wisdom are second to none and provide us with exactly what we need to properly and effectively scale our mission, vision, and impact.”
“For years, I’ve watched Stephen O’Brien with awe, respect, and admiration, not only for what he does, but for how he does it, the results he achieves, and most importantly, how he makes people feel in the process,” says Stephen Ritz, who adds, “Stephen is the consummate professional who understands people, processes, systems, accountability, organizational needs, planning, innovation, and implementation. Stephen’s skills and strengths compliment and support Green Bronx Machine’s relentless innovation and bring tremendous validation, credibility, and gravitas to our work and our organization. I’m the first to admit that two Stephens are better than one. Together, with Lizette and the rest of Team GBM, we are a dedicated tour de force – with service and satisfaction built into our DNA - who are determined to make epic happen and we could not be more excited to do so.”
About Green Bronx Machine: www.greenbronxmachine.org. Green Bronx Machine is an award-winning, impact-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to building healthy, equitable, and resilient communities through inspired education, local food systems, and 21st-century workforce development. Its school-based model uses urban agriculture and hands-on learning to help grow healthy students, high-performing schools, and thriving communities. To date, Green Bronx Machine has trained over 13,000 teachers and impacts over 400,000 students daily. Green Bronx Machine offers curriculum, growing technologies, and multiple opportunities to bring their program to your school or community,
Contact: Stephen Ritz, 917.873.6449, stephen.ritz@greenbronxmachine.org
About SOBX2 Strategic Operations & Business Consulting: www.SOBX2.com. SOBX2 Strategic Operations & Business Consulting works with organizations, institutions, nonprofits, school districts, and businesses to turn ideas into actionable strategies and sustainable results. SOBX2 brings extensive experience in institutional operations, strategic partnerships, foodservice, procurement, sustainability, business development, and organizational improvement.
Contact: Stephen O’Brien, 917.565.7725, sobfood2@gmail.com
#schoolfood #health #wellness #innovation #leadership #education #sustainability #culinary #publiceducation #school #nutrition #operations #foodservice #schoolgarden #towergarden #stem #children
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Type of Content
Press Release
Oct 21 · 14:22·3BL Media
Sustainability
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Oct. 21, 2026 -- According to MarketsandMarkets™, the global sustainability certification market is projected to grow from USD 3.39 billion in 2026 to USD 5.02 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 6.8%. Browse 180 market data Tables and 90 Figures spread...
Oct 21 · 14:15·PR Newswire
Sustainability
2026 reports for both Europe and the United States name Lenovo a Leader, citing its comprehensive approach to helping customers address IT costs and carbon emissions with Sustainability Solutions - - Lenovo announced that it has been named a Leader in the IT Solutions quadrant of the 2026 ISG Provider Lens® Digital Sustainability reports for both Europe and the United States, citing the company's organization-wide approach to IT sustainability, which spans devices, infrastructure and serv...
Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363138
Oct 21 · 14:02·WebWire
Media · Sustainability
Broadcast to 160 Countries and Regions Worldwide via NHK WORLD-JAPAN/jibtv; Now Also Available on Video on Demand TOKYO, October 21, 2026--Japan International Broadcasting Inc. (JIB) has produced an episode of "THE CHOICE," a new program series centered on the hopes and choices of people working toward
Oct 21 · 14:00·Business Wire
Sustainability
The world will miss the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 1.5�C without overshoot. New findings released today show that crossing this threshold is now unavoidable. All efforts must shift to the urgent task of keeping overshoot as small and brief as possible and bringing temperatures back below 1.5�C by the end of the century. - - Keeping warming as close to 1.5�C as possible will reduce threats from extreme heat, rising seas, water shortages, crop losses, and the collapse of na...
Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363137
Oct 21 · 13:59·WebWire
Finance · SaaS
Platinum group metals, gold, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth elements lie together in one mineral province in Kaduna State, which the Minister of Solid Minerals Development announced in June as world-class and the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency has verified. The Ministry opens its doors to global investors at Nigeria NOW!, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja on 19 and 20 November.
Processing is following the discoveries, as lithium facilities of $600m in Nasarawa State and $200m near Abuja sit alongside a $400m rare earth processing project in Nasarawa, and mining lease applicants must now submit value-addition plans. Annual mining revenue has risen from about N6bn before the current administration to more than N70bn by the end of 2025.
The routes to export markets are moving too, as the Federal Executive Council has approved deep seaports at Bakassi and Ondo as public-private partnerships, with the Bakassi port alone valued at $2.27bn.
With a month to go, investors and developers travelling to Abuja will meet these projects at close quarters. In investor boardrooms, the Government of Nigeria will review specific projects in depth, from large-scale infrastructure to multilateral programmes such as Mission 300.
Speaking to Energy News Network in September, Tunde Arisekola, Senior Advisor, Geological and Minerals Information at the African Minerals Development Centre, who joins the minerals session on the first day, said that “first and foremost all international investors coming to Abuja should understand that Nigeria is ready and open for business”. In the same interview he described Nigeria’s economy as “stable, safe, peaceful and welcoming to all international investors”.
The programme opens with a welcome from the Chief Host, H.E. Dr Oladele Henry Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, followed by sessions on how the Ministry of Power will drive capacity into Nigeria’s industrial hubs and on the policies opening the minerals sector to foreign investment, including domestic processing and value addition. The second day turns to the pipeline of transport and port infrastructure and the $1bn Domestic Green Bond, and closes with an investors’ clinic on the 2025 Tax Act.
Lagos State Government, a Nigeria NOW! partner, now regulates its own electricity market after NERC transferred oversight to the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Hon. Biodun Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, told Energy News Network that “capital follows bankable cashflows”. The state’s job, he said, is “to create both the infrastructure plan and the commercial architecture that makes that plan financeable”.
On Friday 20 November, YES! Nigeria runs alongside the main programme under the theme “Empowering Today’s Entrepreneurs, Building Tomorrow’s Industrialists”. Abuja University and Philomath University are partners, and the Youth Sustainable Development Network is Community Partner. Its opening session hands the stage to young Nigerians already at work in the sector, among them Damilola Hamid Balogun of YSDN and Emmanuel Terwase of Boost Power.
Nigeria NOW! is held under the patronage of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, with the Lagos State Government, the Nigerian Indigenous Women in Mining & Natural Resources Organisation, Women in Mining, Nextier and The Electricity Hub as partners.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EnergyNet Ltd..
Media contact:
Poliana@EnergyNet.co.uk
About Nigeria NOW!
About EnergyNet:
EnergyNet has organised investment conferences across Africa for nearly thirty years, including the Africa Energy Forum, bringing governments and investors together around the continent’s energy and infrastructure projects. EnergyNet is part of Clarion Events, and its editorial platform, Energy News Network (ENN), covers energy investment and policy across Africa at energy-news-network.com.
Oct 21 · 13:34·APO Group
SaaS · Energy
Seychelles has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the marine and coastal environment and strengthening regional cooperation during the Twelfth Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Nairobi Convention, held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Held under the theme “Towards Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean for People and Nature: A Journey of Forty Years”, the conference marked the 40th anniversary of the Nairobi Convention. It brought together governments, regional institutions, scientists, civil society, youth, local communities and development partners, to review progress and identify practical measures to advance ocean governance, protect marine biodiversity and promote sustainable ocean-based livelihoods.
Seychelles was represented by the Minister for Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources, Ms. Marie May Jeremie, as Head of Delegation, alongside senior government officials.
Seychelles participation in COP12 provided an opportunity to promote the priorities of an island state whose environment, economy and communities are closely linked to a healthy ocean. Key objectives included strengthening regional partnerships, sharing national experience, supporting nature-based and science-informed approaches to coastal and marine management, and encouraging sustainable financing for conservation and the blue economy.
On the margins of the Nairobi Convention COP 12, Minister Jeremie participated in high level bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation with regional partners on shared environmental and ocean-related priorities. These included a meeting with the Junior Minister for Environment of Mauritius, during which discussions focused on potential exchanges between Seychelles and Mauritius in key areas of mutual interest, including the implementation of the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). The meeting provided an opportunity to explore avenues for knowledge-sharing, the exchange of experiences and best practices, and enhanced collaboration between the two island nations in advancing sustainable ocean governance and the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Minister Jeremie also met with Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The exchange focused on ocean governance in Seychelles and provided an opportunity to discuss issues of shared interest with UNEP.
As Head of Delegation, Minister Jeremie also participated in the COP12 high-level opening as well as ministerial roundtables on regional cooperation in managing shared resources and capacity mobility, and on translating blue economy ambitions into sustainable investments.
These discussions placed emphasis on the need for countries to work together on shared marine and coastal challenges, strengthen institutional and technical capacity, and ensure that investment in the blue economy supports environmental sustainability alongside resilient livelihoods and long-term economic opportunities. Seychelles’ participation also provided a platform to exchange experiences and strengthen links with governments, regional organisations and technical and financing partners.
COP 12 concluded with the adoption of 15 decisions aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and accelerating action for the protection, management and sustainable development of the Western Indian Ocean region.
These decisions addressed key priorities for the region’s marine and coastal environment, reinforcing collective efforts to promote sustainable ocean governance, enhance ecosystem protection and resilience, and advance the implementation of the Nairobi Convention’s objectives. Key priorities included advancing implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and supporting the conservation and restoration of critical coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs. These ecosystems play a vital role in protecting coastlines, supporting biodiversity, storing blue carbon and strengthening resilience to climate change.
Parties adopted the Regional Plastic and Associated Chemicals Strategy, marking an important step towards strengthening regional efforts to address plastic pollution and the impacts of associated chemicals on the marine and coastal environment. In addition, the regional contingency plan for preparedness and response to major marine pollution incidents was also adopted and called for stronger action to address land-based sources of marine degradation, reaffirming their commitment to protecting and sustainably managing the Western Indian Ocean region.
COP12 emphasised the importance of ocean accounting, sustainable blue finance and inclusive blue economy investments that create opportunities for local communities, women and young people. Strengthening scientific cooperation, ecosystem monitoring and regional information-sharing was also recognised as essential to improving decision-making and translating commitments into measurable results.
These outcomes provide an important framework for strengthening cooperation among countries sharing the Western Indian Ocean and advancing practical action to safeguard marine and coastal resources.
COP12 also provided opportunities to highlight the role of youth, women, researchers, local communities and civil society in advancing sustainable ocean management.
Discussions on women and youth in the blue economy emphasised the importance of inclusive participation, skills development, innovation and access to opportunities within ocean-based industries. These priorities are particularly relevant to island states such as Seychelles, where sustainable livelihoods depend on maintaining healthy marine ecosystems while creating economic opportunities for present and future generations.
The conference further reinforced the need to connect regional policy commitments with local action, ensuring that communities benefit from conservation initiatives and have a meaningful role in the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources.
Through its participation in COP12, Seychelles reaffirms its commitment to support collective regional action to safeguard the Western Indian Ocean and strengthen the links between ocean protection, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
The conference marked an important milestone in four decades of regional cooperation under the Nairobi Convention and reaffirmed the need to move from commitments to implementation through stronger partnerships, science, sustainable financing and inclusive decision-making.
The Ministry for Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources will continue to work with national stakeholders, regional organisations and international partners to advance Seychelles’ marine and coastal priorities and contribute to a healthy, resilient and sustainably managed Western Indian Ocean for present and future generations.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources, Seychelles.
Oct 21 · 13:30·APO Group
AI · Energy
AI-driven mill and kiln optimization, predictive maintenance and sustainability solutions help cement producers reduce downtime, lower energy consumption, extend equipment life and cut CO₂ emissions
Oct 21 · 13:00·Newswire.com