The Blue Future

The Salt in our Blood

The oceans cover 71% of the earth, and hold 97% of its water. They play a pivotal role in our climate and food security and transport 90% of all the goods we consume. Yet 95% of the underwater world remains unexplored, and the industries which make up the Blue Economy remain largely invisible.

As we move into the future this ‘Blue Hole’ in our understanding and appreciation has to be filled. The oceans, lakes and rivers offer huge opportunities for humans to exploit, protect and enjoy, safely and sustainably. From blue-energy to blue biotech and medicines, undersea factories and sustainable ships, blue data and maritime domain security the megatrends and emerging technologies globally are offering powerful new ways to connect and protect the blue domain for global benefit.


John F Kennedy.


Blue Horizon, Blue Future

The impact of new digital paradigms, breakthrough technologies and megatrends on our Blue Future and the Blue Economy will shape how individuals and businesses will manage, steward, sustain and commercially exploit our oceans, lakes, rivers, coastlines and ports in the decades to come.

As high-speed connectivity and computing, the growth in Blue Data, the need for improved maritime domain awareness and security, and global sustainability issues drive convergence of maritime interests and sectors the Blue Economy is poised for significant growth.

Balancing that growth with the critical part water on earth plays in our health, food security and wider plant and animal ecosystems will be both a challenge and a huge opportunity.

In a world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, harnessing new technologies, mindsets and business models to standardise, simplify and share global stewardship of the oceans is an urgent requirement.

As the world’s foremost Blue Futurist and a thought-leader in the maritime space K D Adamson speaks and writes widely on the technology and other trends shaping the blue future and her vision of how the way we approach the blue economy from regulation and business models to sustainability and technology-deployment will change in the future.

Learn about Keynote speaking and presentingFuturenautics, and Blue-Water Think Tanks & Consultancy.

  • Earth covered by water 71% 71%
  • Goods transported by sea 90% 90%
  • Oceans unexplored 95% 95%
  • Oceans protected 2% 2%