Just 1.2% of seafarers are women. In March we mark International Women’s Day and Gender Equality month as an opportunity to reflect on the deep gender divides and inequalities that exist across ocean industries, while celebrating the (often undervalued) contributions of women towards the burgeoning blue economy.

The 2022 World Ocean Summit focused on achieving 2030 goals. 174 speakers engaged the audience with tangible solutions, real-life examples and action-oriented strategies to achieve these goals. We have heard about action beyond ambition, and strategies to achieve commitments.

It’s Day 3 of Economist Impact’s World Ocean Summit! I interviewed Peggy Kalas, director of the High Seas Alliance, on protecting biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). Negotiations for a treaty on BBNJ—or high seas treaty—began in 2018 and there is hope that there will be a breakthrough this year.

It’s Day 3 of Economist Impact’s World Ocean Summit! I moderated a plenary panel discussion on using data to drive investment. I was joined by Dag Sletmo, senior vice-president, DNB; Suzanne Johnson, senior advisor ocean, United Nations Global Compact and head of sustainability, Lloyd’s Register Foundation; and Grant Cavanaugh, chief investment officer, Scoot Science.

It’s Day 2 of Economist Impact’s World Ocean Summit! I moderated a plenary panel discussion on high hopes for seaweed. I was joined by Caroline Slootweg, co-founder of Kelp Blue; Bill Collins, chairman of Cascadia Seaweed; and Dodon Yamin, managing director of MARI Oceans Indonesia.

Economist Impact’s World Ocean Summit started today! On Day 1 I moderated a plenary panel discussion on connecting the silos for a healthy ocean. We explored the big picture for ocean regeneration, and how collaboration between government, industry, investors, scientists and NGOs can bring it about.

I will be moderating four sessions and three roundtables at Economist Impact's World Ocean Summit Virtual Week starting tomorrow, March 1st, on great topics such as ocean regeneration, the outlook for seaweed, data for ocean investment, and the prospects for a high seas treaty. The World Ocean Initiative will publish regular updates during the week.

Next week, from March 1st-4th the 9th annual World Ocean Summit Virtual Week will gather more than 150 leading expert speakers, including John Kerry, US special presidential envoy for climate, and 5,000 attendees to discuss what needs to be done to achieve 2030 targets for the ocean. 

Engaging the finance sector in Nature-based Solutions is critical. At the World Ocean Summit we bring together people on these cross-cutting issues to help generate positive impact for people and planet. I recently joined IUCN’s Investing For Ocean Impact podcast to discuss the role of the finance sector in protecting our ocean.

To deliver on global sustainability goals—the theme of this year’s World Ocean Summit—and unlock the true potential of the ocean economy, we need to foster blue skills within and across disciplines. This month we celebrate International Day of Education and what it means for the ocean community.

2021 was a big year for the ocean. There is no doubt that action to build a sustainable ocean economy will continue to accelerate in 2022. Here's a selection of year-end highlights from the World Ocean Initiative.

It's the fifth and final day of Economist Impact's World Ocean Summit Asia-Pacific. Join us for today's great sessions. I will be moderating two plenary panel discussions today, on: 1) Small Island Developing States (SIDS)—new challenges, new opportunities, and 2) Harnessing the power of seaweed.

It's Day Four of Economist Impact's World Ocean Summit Asia-Pacific. Join us for today's fantastic sessions. I will be moderating two sessions today: 1) a panel discussion in the Energy track on building momentum for offshore wind in Asia-Pacific, and 2) The Economist’s debrief on COP26 and the ocean.

It's Day Two of Economist Impact's World Ocean Summit Asia-Pacific. Join us for today's exciting sessions. I will be moderating a plenary panel discussion on how to implement and manage marine protected areas.

It's Day One of Economist Impact's World Ocean Summit Asia-Pacific. Join us today for some fantastic sessions. I will be moderating a panel discussion in the Finance track on "developing the business case to attract early investors".

I am looking forward to moderating six sessions at Economist Impact's World Ocean Summit Asia-Pacific next week (December 6th–10th). The theme of the summit is "Investing in a blue economy".

Every November, World Fisheries Day is held to reflect on the importance of sustainable stocks of fisheries. To mark this occasion the World Ocean Initiative explores the precarious state of Arctic fisheries, reflects on fisheries-related insights from the World Ocean Summit and shines a light on the underrepresentation of women in blue foods.

I moderated a World Ocean Initiative Insight Hour on "Enhancing stewardship for the safe, sustainable use of the ocean", sponsored by the Lloyd's Register Foundation.

COP26 may not have delivered a clear pathway towards keeping “1.5 alive,” but nature was at the forefront of high-level climate negotiations like never before. Read more for an overview of recent ocean-climate coverage on the World Ocean Initiative.