As countries consider how to rebuild their economies after the covid-19 pandemic while also tackling the climate crisis, an immense arena of opportunity lies before them—one where every US$1 invested could yield at least US$5 in returns: the world ocean. This is the finding of a new report by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy exploring the economic value that sustainable use of the ocean might generate.

 

In a guest blog for the World Ocean Initiative Mukhisa Kituyi, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and Dona Bertarelli, UNCTAD’s new special adviser for the blue economy, outline what the blue recovery agenda should include. Developing countries in particular can benefit.

 

To commemorate Japan’s National Ocean Day on July 23rd, the World Ocean Initiative hosted the first webinar in a three-part series on Blue Recovery, sponsored by the Nippon Foundation and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. The discussion focused on post-pandemic priorities for ocean sustainability in Asia and the Pacific and laid the foundations for the next two webinars on science-led ocean innovation and the delayed ocean “super” year. I hope you can join me to discuss the next steps for accelerating a blue recovery.

 

What will the sustainable ocean economy look like in 2030? What are the risks and opportunities facing companies and investors? Will the post-coronavirus recovery help or hinder the ocean’s potential to create economic growth and jobs? Read the World Ocean Initiative’s latest report.