Press Release 7/4/25 – RethinkBlue Cost Action 22122
The Blue Impact Lab: Sustainability Impact Assessment of Blue Economy Strategies in Island and Coastal Regions took place between April 2-5, 2025, at the University of the Aegean in Rhodes, Greece. This interactive training School was organised by EU COST Action RethinkBlue.
The Blue Impact Lab brought together researchers from the social, natural, and applied sciences, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore key methodologies and best practices in socio-economic and environmental impact assessment for the sustainable development of the Blue Economy. Issues discussed included employment, social equity, small scale fishing, yacht marina development, community renewable energy, community participation, protection of maritime and coastal ecology, tourism, aquaculture, waste management, and governance.
Blue Impact Lab involved hands-on workshops on impact assessment methods; a site visit to Chalki, Greece’s first GR-ECO island; Interactive stakeholder engagement & policy simulation; Expert-led discussions on sustainability strategies for island and coastal regions; and various opportunities for academic and stakeholder networking for participants from 16 countries.
Commenting about the Blue Impact Lab, event coordinator Prof Maria Lekakou, from the University of the Aegean, Greece, said
“The Blue Impact Lab provided an ideal environment for Blue Economy sustainability research. More importantly, experts, researchers, and stakeholders could exchange ideas and practices on how to research, produce and assess sustainability policies in islands and coastal regions”.
The main aim and objective of the RethinkBlue COST Action CA22122 is to to assess the impact, and the opportunities arising from the Blue Economy. This will create new insights on how to enhance the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Blue Economy.
COST Actions are EU-funded programmes that enable cooperation in science and technology.
For more details visit RethinkBlue.eu.
