A global blue economy is an economic arena that depends on the benefits and values realized from the coastal and marine environments. This book explains the "sustainable blue economy" as a marine-based economy that provides social and economic benefits for current and future generations. It restores, protects, and maintains the diversity, productivity, and resilience of marine ecosystems, and is based on clean technologies, renewable energy, and circular material flows.

Raw materials have been essential in the development of all human societies through history and moving into a greener, more carbon-lean future we become increasingly reliant on access to a growing number of raw materials. Minerals for new technologies improving the quality of our lives and the environment are the building blocks of the new Green Stone Age. This Special Publication presents ongoing research and mapping programmes focusing on minerals needed for the transformation to greener societies. In addition to new exploration models and shared geological information on the different prospective currently mined areas, the notion of criticality in different countries is discussed and examples of ongoing national and cross-country research and mapping programmes are presented. In addition to the resource/reserve and technical-economic aspects, the social and environmental dimensions are also a focus in some of the contributions, as holistic approaches to the exploration and exploitation of critical minerals and materials are needed to fulfil the green transition and goals for the Green Stone Age.