Barriers and enablers of green development: the example of blue economy sectors in coastal communities of the Wadden Sea region

Climate change and human activities are altering marine and coastal ecosystems, threatening biodiversity, ecosystem services and livelihoods. The blue economy depends on healthy ecosystems but also drives their degradation. This interdependence calls for development pathways that sustain ecosystems while supporting economic and social well-being. In this context, “green development” refers to strategies and measures that facilitate long-term transformative change towards sustainability, biodiversity protection, resilience and climate neutrality. The purpose of this paper is to examine how blue economy sectors in the German Wadden Sea region can advance green development. Based on insights from 35 expert interviews and a cross-sectoral workshop, the paper therefore i) identifies barriers and enablers of green development, ii) maps these barriers and enablers against the green recovery/green development framework, and iii) formulates strategies to harness enablers and overcome barriers for effective green development. Results indicate that existence of conflicting priorities and lack of adequate laws and regulations are the most frequently reported barriers. In turn, awareness raising activities and development of adequate laws and regulations emerged as most cited enablers. Other barriers include coordination challenges, issues with data and information, lack of incentives and financial instruments, lack of financial and human resources and lack of innovation. Key enablers encompass strong political leadership, engagement with stakeholders, development and availability of financial instruments, availability of financial and human resources, as well as fostering innovation. Regarding relevant pillars of green development, critical gaps were found in work with nature, climate-resilient infrastructure, biodiversity conservation and biodiversity enhancement. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) remain underutilized despite their potential to deliver multiple socioeconomic and ecological co-benefits. These findings highlight the need for more integrated NbS to align development with climate objectives and biodiversity conservation. Prioritizing this and strengthening good governance and ensuring inclusive stakeholder engagement is critical for informing policy decisions and supporting a green, resilient blue economy development.