The launch forum, called “Transitioning to a Green and Blue Economy”, supported by the joint UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) and the ILO-Japan Social Safety Net Fund, builds on the results of earlier ILO-led initiatives in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi Province to support jobs in the green and blue economy sectors. It will mainstream the results across Southeast Asia’s ASEAN region.

The green economy refers to an economic system that provides development while minimizing environmental degradation. The blue economy refers to the sustainable development of marine and coastal resources, balancing economic growth with conservation.

In an area of immense natural beauty, such as North Sulawesi, various sustainable tourism pilot projects have shown the viability of the green and blue transition, said Michiko Miyamoto, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste. She cited the example of Budo, one of four coastal communities in the province where the ILO had supported a sustainable tourism initiative, and which is now self-sustaining and is heralded nationwide as an example of blue economy village level development.

“We have proven in Budo village and elsewhere that the green and blue transition, based on green and blue jobs, brings advantages to both the communities and nature,” she said. “We are working to attract more domestic and international actors to foster more such projects in North Sulawesi and beyond.”

Click here to read more about Budo and the impact of the ILO project on livelihoods and the environment.

Needed: cooperation among governments, investors, academia, community organizations

In order for such projects to scale up beyond pilot initiatives, the cooperation of several actors are required, heard participants of the Forum. Governments at all levels need to pass legislation and local bylaws that incentivize conservation and sustainable practices; academics need to help communities learn best practices based on local and international examples; and investors, companies and financial institutions need to prioritize circular economy projects.

“With all the actors working together, a green and blue transition is much easier and faster,” Miyamoto said.

North Sulawesi provides an example for such a partnership: the government has designated conservation areas and is supporting the marketing of these green and blue destinations to tourists in Indonesia and beyond, said Ermas Isnaini Lukman, from Bunaken National Park. “Furthermore, setting aside funds for mangrove conservation not only creates jobs in coastal villages but also contributes to the protection of communities from tidal waves,” he added.

Localities like North Sulawesi should advocate for development models that prioritize sustainability, inclusivity, and the Just Transition, where no one is left behind, said Kusum Lata Jain, Team Lead, Mitigation Impact Assessment Support Unit at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), during her keynote remarks. Importantly, the Conference of Parties (COP) process on greenhouse gas emission reduction has already recognized ocean-based initiatives in mandates on climate action. “This is an important step for connecting climate adaptation and mitigation strategies with restoration of marine ecosystems,” she said.

Universities in the province are increasingly adding green and blue economy topics into their tourism management programmes, opening the eyes of a new generation of tourism professionals to an alternative way of leisure travel, beyond mass tourism, said Winda M. Mingkid, Professor of Tourism at Sam Ratulangi University.

Shared interest, supporting villages

Supporting villagers in developing and managing small scale accommodations, known in Indonesia as “homestays”, is another important way to ensure that local communities benefit from sustainable tourism, speakers from the Ministry of Tourism emphasized. By providing training in tourism, business and marketing skills, villagers – particularly women – learn a new trade and earn pride by sharing their way of life with tourists, said Indrajit Taliwongso, senior lecturer at Universitas Klabat. “Through the establishment of standards, homestay associations now provide assurances to tourists about the quality of these guesthouses, addressing a chief concern from guests in the past,” he added.

Conservation is a viable proposition when it creates tangible economic value for communities who live off the natural resources. Villagers near the Tangkoko National Park, a wildlife watching destination famous for providing a natural habitat for the Yaki and Tarsius monkeys, among others, have realized that if they hunt the animals or disturb their habitats, it will put an end to tourist visits and the income it brings. “The villagers live in symbiosis with the park, which means that there is no need for guards or fences,” said Head Ranger Jenly. “It is this shared interest that ensures the survival of this part and the nature it protects.”

Toward the Establishment of a Biodiversity and Jobs initiative

This experience in North Sulawesi underscores the potential of the Biodiversity and Jobs Initiative, speakers said. This will help address the urgent need to conserve the ASEAN region's rich biodiversity, while simultaneously fostering sustainable economic growth and employment. The ILO and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity are working to develop a partnership and are looking for additional partners to increase the impact of the initiative.

“Through such partnerships, the ASEAN region can drive inclusive and sustainable development, promoting biodiversity-related employment and contributing to a greener, more resilient future,” Miyamoto said.