The World Ocean Initiative team was on the ground last month at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Lisbon and the UN World Oceans Day events in New York. As the ocean month of June came to a close, it remained abundantly clear that we need all industries and sectors “on board” to achieve SDG14: Life Below Water, and drive what the FAO has called a “Blue Transformation”.
In our recent coverage the World Ocean Initiative explores how UNOC 2022 pushes progress toward realising global goals, and touches upon the financial (and environmental) perils of deep-sea mining—something that was protested throughout the conference. It features my own insights from moderating a session on blue finance at this year’s UN World Oceans Day and dives into the new guidance on blue bonds that was released during UNOC.
Recent coverage on the World Ocean Initiative:
Lessons from World Oceans Day 2022: a revitalised ocean economy
Martin Koehring, head of Economist Impact’s World Ocean Initiative, highlights the key takeaways from the UN World Oceans Day event in New York.
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A breakthrough for blue bonds at the UN Ocean Conference
Five global organisations have come together to create a practical guide on blue bond issuance to boost clarity for the market.
Is deep-sea mining a sound investment?
New guidance from UNEP-FI warns investors about the risks of sinking funds into ocean mining activities.
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Measuring the splash: how will the UN Ocean Conference impact global goals?
A key part of UNOC is converging and measuring Voluntary Commitments (VCs)—ocean actions from governments, organisations and individuals that contribute to achieving SDG14. How can UNOC 2022 build upon the legacy of UNOC 2017, which brought together more than 1,700 VCs?
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Ocean Changemakers Challenge: the next wave of innovators
We need innovative, passionate leaders to foster a sustainable blue economy and ensure a healthy future for our seas. The World Ocean Initiative—with support from Destination Canada—is excited to host the third annual Ocean Changemakers Challenge, a competition showcasing leading changemakers working to develop business solutions to ocean-related sustainability challenges. It is aimed at early-career researchers or professionals.
Apply now
From the Initiative’s partners:
The Invisible Wave: getting to zero chemical pollution
The Invisible Wave sets out a case for chemical pollution in the ocean to be treated with the same gravity and the same urgency as plastic pollution. In many ways, they are two sides of the same coin.
Read the report
Upcoming events:
World Ocean Tech and Innovation Summit: Powering the next phase in blue growth
October 4th-5th 2022, Halifax, Canada
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2nd annual World Ocean Summit Asia-Pacific
November 29th-30th, Singapore
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