Blue, Green and Circular Economies as a Panacea to Environmental Sustainability: An Empirical Assessment

Environmental degradation, climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion continue to undermine sustainable development globally, particularly in developing economies. In response, the blue, green, and circular economy frameworks have emerged as integrated development paradigms aimed at decoupling economic growth from environmental harm. Despite their growing prominence in policy discourse, empirical evidence on their combined effectiveness in promoting environmental sustainability remains limited, especially within African contexts. This study empirically examines the extent to which blue, green, and circular economy practices contribute to environmental sustainability outcomes. Using a mixed-methods research design, data were collected from 320 stakeholders across public institutions, private organizations, environmental NGOs, and local communities. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression analysis, while qualitative data from key informant interviews were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal that while all three economic paradigms significantly enhance environmental sustainability, circular economy practices exert the strongest influence, followed by green and blue economy initiatives. The study concludes that an integrated adoption of blue, green, and circular economy strategies constitutes a viable pathway toward environmental sustainability, provided that institutional capacity, financing, and policy coherence are strengthened.