Oceans: Co-creating a sustainable blue economy in Sweden
MISTRA, the Swedish foundation for strategic environmental research, has funded a new research programme that envisions a radical change in how we think about and use the ocean. Uta Wehn, Associate Professor of Water Innovation Studies at IHE Delft had a key role in shaping the programme with her expertise in science, technology and innovation (STI) studies. The ‘Co-Creating Better Blue’ research programme is led by the University of Gothenburg, and works together with marine experts and stakeholders across the country and beyond.
Humanity depends on marine livelihoods, but the blue economy is also rapidly increasing pressure on the long-term sustainability of marine ecosystems through fishing, shipping and off-shore installations. This means that we need to radically change the way we think about and use the ocean.
“We need to move away from using the ocean for economic growth to the realisation that sustainability is the centre. Achieving the required transformative changes means we need advances in science, technology, and governance that re-enforce each other” said Uta Wehn who led the design of the C2B2 programme during her stay as Adlerbert Visiting Professor at the University of Gothenburg (2021-2022).
Putting sustainability first requires different actors and agendas to work together in a constructive co-creation process. As a larger part of society has an increasing stake in the ocean, it is imperative that we develop new forms of stakeholder collaboration combined with science-based ecosystem governance practices. The Co-Creating Better Blue (C2B2) programme envisions a more sustainable, open and democratic, multisector and multi-actor blue economy and sustainable society.
Co-creating science-based ocean governance
“At the heart of the Action Research methodology of the C2B2 programme is the initiation of co-creation processes and then embedding them as ‘the new normal’ for participatory ocean governance”, said Uta Wehn.
Through LivingLabs, which is a common approach in the water sector and applied in other research projects by IHE Delft, proven co-creation methods will be applied in three of Sweden’s marine basins (the Gulf of Bothnia, Baltic Proper and Kattegatt-Skagerrak). These areas are subject to conflicts of goals as well as rapid climate change impacts, such as changes in seasonal ice coverage. Some are used by off-shore industries, and experience a lot of marine litter from the fishing industry, affecting ecosystem health.
One of the most exciting – and challenging - parts is that the programme methodology provides a unique combination of Open Science, Open Innovation and participatory governance practices.
C2B2 brings together 13 partners from academia and research organisations, 25 co-funding associated partners from industry and the public sector, as well as stakeholders from civil society, and will actively recruit more actors to join during the programme period (2023-2027).
Uta Wehn will be co-leading the C2B2 programme with Dr. Torsten Linders, C2B2 Programme Director, from the University of Gothenburg. As the C2B2 Scientific Director, she will be in charge of ensuring the conceptual coherence of the programme and the coordination of the transdisciplinary research processes across the Work Packages and in the LivingLabs.