What an insightful and exciting time its been at the UN Ocean Conference (and associated events) in Nice! Great to see so many ocean friends and progress in key areas such as accelerating blue finance, sustainable use of the high seas, and pollution.
The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) played a major a role in advancing ocean regeneration, prosperity and health with its membership, partnerships and collaborations through key initiatives:
🌊 Highlighting the important anchor role played by the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles and its membership of 87 financial institutions representing USD 11 trillion assets under management.
🌊 Co-publishing the Ocean Investment Protocol with United Nations Global Compact and disseminating it across the financial sector and other stakeholder groups throughout the conference, including at the Blue Economy & Finance Forum in Monaco (a special UNOC event dedicated to blue finance). The Protocol could provide the framework to lead the growth of the Sustainable Blue Economy by unlocking private capital.
🌊 Launching the co-design process for One Ocean Financea bold new effort to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectorsalongside partners such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the United Nations Global Compact. The call for engagement is here.
🌊 Supporting progress on the High Seas Treaty or treaty on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) by advancing knowledge about the financial dimension of the the treaty at the One Ocean Science Congress (a scientific event supporting the UN Ocean Conference) and participating in a side event organized by the BBNJ Finance Advisory Group (of which UNEP FI is a member) focusing on mobilising private capital for high seas conservation.
🌊 Convening the finance sector to back the adoption of an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty, for example by highlighting the work of the Finance Leadership Group on Plastics during the Blue Economy & Finance Forum.
🌊 Advancing credible and scalable markets for marine biodiversity credits by co-facilitating the Biodiversity Credit Alliance, which organised a side event on applying high-level principles to coastal & ocean ecosystems during UNOC.
💙 Great to see the leadership and ambition among many of the Sustainable Blue Economy Initiative’s members such as AFD, Asian Development Bank, AXA, BNP Paribas, European Investment Bank, IUCN, Katapult Ocean, ORRAA, World Bank Group and more! UNOC and associated events highlighted the importance of unlocking blue finance for healthy people and planet, including the key role played by the finance sector in contributing to global ocean health, prosperity and regeneration.
