LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) featured Dr. Oskar Lecuyer, an environmental economist at the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), in its latest Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) held via Zoom and onsite at SEARCA on 12 September 2025.
Lecuyer presented the Blue Environmental Sustainability Gap (Blue ESGAP) framework, a pioneering tool for assessing nature-related risks and guiding sustainable management of marine and coastal resources.
Building on AFD's Environmental Sustainability Gap (ESGAP) model, the Blue ESGAP is being piloted in Indonesia and the Philippines to measure the ecological, social, and economic dimensions of ocean sustainability. The framework uses indicators to track biodiversity loss, pollution, overfishing, and climate pressures while linking these to human and financial systems that depend on marine resources.
Lecuyer emphasized the need to transition from "low sustainability," which assumes that natural resources can be replaced by economic capital, to "strong sustainability," which recognizes ecosystems as irreplaceable foundations of livelihoods, food security, and resilience. He warned that six of nine planetary boundaries have already been breached, stressing the need for stronger science-based policies and inclusive approaches to protect marine ecosystems. The nine planetary boundaries are biophysical systems and processes that regulate the functioning of life support systems on Earth.
Attended onsite by stakeholders from the Los Baños Science Community (LBSC), the open forum enabled participants to raise critical questions on how Blue ESGAP can be applied fairly and inclusively. One online attendee asked how the framework ensures that policies informed by its metrics do not favor large-scale corporate-led blue economy projects over marginalized communities.
Lecuyer explained that "Blue ESGAP emphasizes community-level data and ecosystem service provision, making visible the welfare losses experienced by small-scale fishers and coastal populations." He also noted its compatibility with the United Nations' System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA), which allows environmental data to be integrated into official national statistics.
Participants also asked about incorporating social-based indicators, such as nutrition or cultural uses of the sea. Lecuyer acknowledged the challenge, pointing out that while ecological and economic reference levels can be established, consensus is lacking for social sustainability targets. Nevertheless, he emphasized that ecosystem service assessments remain a valuable lens to capture social dimensions.
Finally, discussions turned to policy entry points in the Philippines, such as updating the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act and improving environmental data systems. Lecuyer highlighted two immediate areas where Blue ESGAP could contribute: informing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on critical indicators for environmental monitoring, and supporting the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in developing comprehensive accounts for ocean-based activities aligned with international ocean accounting standards.
"With the Blue ESGAP framework, we can measure how far we are from strong sustainability and identify the gaps we must close. Sustainability is not only about protecting nature, it is about safeguarding the economy and human well-being for the long term," Lecuyer concluded.
The SEARCA ADSS is a regular forum for the exchange of ideas on agricultural and rural development. It aims to foster dynamic discussion and knowledge sharing within and beyond the LBSC.