Blue Economy
Cartagena lives with its back to the water, in a city that was born from the water. This contradiction summarizes our greatest lost opportunity: the Blue Economy. The Blue Economy is not a romantic concept; it is an economic strategy. It consists of sustainably harnessing water resources—seas, canals, swamps, lagoons—to generate growth, employment, and urban value without destroying the ecosystem. It is, in essence, turning water into productive infrastructure: mobility, tourism, commerce, housing, and environmental restoration.
TL;DR
- Cartagena's water resources represent a lost opportunity for economic growth, known as the 'Blue Economy'.
- The Blue Economy is an economic strategy focused on sustainable use of water resources for growth, employment, and urban value.
- A 'Blue Master Plan' is urgently needed to structure aquatic public transport, recover ecosystems, promote urban renewal, and boost tourism.
- International examples like Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Puerto Madero (Buenos Aires), London's Docklands, and Baltimore's Inner Harbor demonstrate successful water-based urban and economic transformation.
- Applying these models could lead to Cartagena's next major economic transformation by viewing water bodies as productive assets rather than mere channels.