Rio state launches platforms to advance blue economy - Valor International

Seeking a leading role in an increasingly prominent international agenda, Rio de Janeiro state has launched two platforms to guide the expansion of the so-called blue economy. The concept refers to the sustainable use of ocean, river, and coastal resources to drive economic growth, create jobs and income, and preserve the health of aquatic ecosystems.

One is the Blue Economy Dashboard, developed in partnership with the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), which provides an assessment of activities connected to the sector. The other is the Guanabara Azul platform, developed by the Computational Methods in Engineering Laboratory (LAMCE) at COPPE/UFRJ, which monitors Guanabara Bay’s environmental, meteorological, and socioeconomic conditions in real time.

The blue economy generates about $1.5 trillion annually worldwide, equivalent to approximately 2.5% of global GDP, according to the United Nations. The market is expected to double in size by 2030, with the potential to create about 40 million jobs.

Rio de Janeiro state offers favorable conditions for advancing this agenda. Its coastline extends 636 kilometers and is home to about 80% of the state’s population, while its economy is closely tied to the sea through ports, oil and gas, tourism, fishing, and shipbuilding. The 2027 United Nations Ocean Decade Conference is expected to raise the profile of this potential and encourage initiatives focused on sustainable coastal management.

Joilson Cabral, coordinator of UFRRJ’s graduate program in regional economics and development, explained that the Blue Economy Dashboard is Brazil’s first initiative to compile a socioeconomic assessment of Rio de Janeiro state’s blue economy using data from 2008 to 2024. The survey classifies 101 economic activities into eight sectors and seeks to demonstrate the industry’s potential.

“The blue economy can drive economic development in Rio de Janeiro state by creating jobs and income and increasing tax revenue,” he summarized. According to Cabral, the blue economy accounts for 15.15% of the state’s GDP. It generates estimated revenue of R$384.2 billion, equivalent to 13.5% of the total revenue generated in the state in 2025. It is currently estimated to support about 400,000 direct, formal jobs.

Cabral noted that the dashboard seeks to raise the profile of an economic chain that extends far beyond the tourist image of Rio’s coastline. “Activities connected to oil and gas, shipbuilding, logistics, waterborne transportation, public utilities, and tourism fall within the concept, provided they are associated with the sustainable use of resources. The goal is to provide government officials, researchers, and businesses with a resource for monitoring the economic dynamics of the sea and inland waters more accurately,” he explained.

The Guanabara Azul platform approaches the issue from another direction: observing the bay in real time and turning information into risk forecasts and public-policy decisions.

Luiz Landau, deputy coordinator at COPPE/UFRJ and head of the system, explained that the initiative grew out of earlier modeling and monitoring projects. It gradually evolved into an integrated platform that connects sensors, radar, weather stations, and other equipment to collect and transmit data in real time.

“The system functions as a digital twin of Guanabara Bay, capable of virtually reproducing actual environmental conditions and helping forecast currents, winds, waves, cold fronts, and hazardous situations. It also brings together socioeconomic and environmental information that can support both public administration and land-use planning,” he noted.

According to Landau, the platform should also be useful during emergencies such as oil spills and extreme weather events. Real-time data will make it possible to anticipate impacts and map dispersion routes, while supporting decisions on navigation, port operations, civil defense, and risk prevention for nearby communities. The platform is expected to offer different levels of access, ranging from the general public to more restricted layers for government officials, and the model may eventually be replicated in other parts of Rio de Janeiro state’s coastline.

Ana Asti, undersecretary for sustainability and environmental education at the State Secretariat for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), considers the two initiatives complementary and directly connected to efforts to restore the bay. “Without environmental quality, the blue economy loses strength. Without monitoring, restoring the bay becomes slower and less precise.”

Asti linked the new phase to expanded sanitation services and restoring services that had deteriorated. According to the undersecretary, the state is working to achieve 90% sanitation coverage in the metropolitan region by 2033, providing residents with a healthier ecosystem, beaches safe for swimming, the return of wildlife, and greater potential for the economic use of the coastline.

The platforms were launched during Green Rio Tech Blue Economy Rio 2026, held on October 29 and 30. Maria Beatriz Bley Martins Costa, CEO of Green Rio Tech, noted that the event, now in its 14th edition, is becoming an established forum for coordinating this type of agenda. “Green Rio is establishing itself as a platform for meetings and regional and international collaboration,” she explained. The event encompasses innovation and discussions focused on the bioeconomy, blue economy, and sustainability.