Martin Koehring 🌏 Global Blue Economy and Sustainability Expert | Ocean Futurist | Charity Board Trustee | TEDx Speaker

In a conversation for Therma's Point 01 podcast I spoke with co-founder Aaron Cohen about how reinvigorating the ocean economy will lead to sustained and equitable economic growth. 

On September 10th I presented the Food Sustainability Index during a webinar on teaching the complexity of food sustainability. The webinar explored how to introduce the FSI EDU toolkit in university curricula.

As part of the Blue Recovery Series, the World Ocean Initiative hosted a webinar on the roles of science, innovation and investment in establishing a sustainable ocean economy in the post-coronavirus period.

On September 8th I will be moderating a session on “A Sustainable Ocean Economy” at the Founders Forum Climate Summit during London Tech Week. I will be joined by a great panel of ocean investment experts.

On 20 August I was interviewed on The Peggy Smedley Show, a leading podcast on digital transformation that averages 115,000 listeners. The discussion revolved around sustainability in the seas, why we need to stop thinking of the economy as linear and why sustainability is a business issue, amongst other items.

On 19 August I spoke about the economics of coral reef ecosystems at an Ocean Exchange webinar. It was great to learn from Sam Teicher of Coral Vita about his company's coral reef restoration projects.

On August 13th I moderated a webinar that brought together the winners of the World Ocean Initiative’s Women and the ocean: Changemakers challenge and their three mentors. The panel discussed the changemakers' vision for the blue economy, outlined the potential impact of their projects and detailed what they expect to gain from the mentorship.

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.

Between 24 and 26 July 2020 I presented about ocean sustainability at the 15th Annual Green Economics Institute Conference.

Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. To mark this occasion, the World Ocean Initiative is highlighting some of our recent coverage on tackling marine plastic pollution.

In a guest article for Innovation News Network I examine how Innovation is crucial to both harness the opportunities a sustainable ocean economy can offer and address the risks that ocean degradation poses. Innovative solutions include ocean energy, the decarbonisation of shipping, aquaculture, ecosystem restoration and ‘blue carbon’, ocean geoengineering, and blue finance.

Recent World Ocean Initiative coverage highlights the need for systemic change, concerted corporate action and international collaboration.

During Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2020, organised by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, I moderated a great plenary panel discussion on the high seas. I was joined by six experts on ocean governance to discuss the prospects for a new high seas treaty.

On World Oceans Day I moderated a great webinar on the importance of ocean investment. The webinar also included the screening of the premiere of a new Economist film featuring Sir David Attenborough and other leading ocean thinkers.

For World Oceans Day The Economist Group’s World Ocean Initiative has published a new report highlighting economic and environmental benefits that ocean industries should aspire to achieve by 2030.

On Thursday May 28th I moderated a fantastic webinar on the future of seafood. The panel discussed the most important sustainability challenges facing fisheries and aquaculture.

The World Trade Organisation expects global trade to fall by up to a third in 2020 as covid-19 disrupts supply chains, economic activity and life around the world. The effects on the ocean economy are profound. On May 12th I moderated a World Ocean Initiative webinar to discuss the prospects for the post-coronavirus ocean economy.

With the world battling the coronavirus pandemic, everyone’s first thoughts are for their families and loved ones. I hope all readers are staying safe in these challenging times. The crisis is also having an impact on something else that we all care about—the ocean.

Building a sustainable ocean economy requires brave pioneers and ocean protectors. This month the World Ocean Initiative launched a new season of The Protectors film series and called for nominations for the World Ocean Tech and Innovation Summit.

Climate change, plastic pollution and ecosystem destruction—the ocean faces many risks. Homes, businesses and investments are threatened by extreme weather, exposure to toxic chemicals and loss of resources. Innovation in ocean-based sectors can provide solutions to these problems, turning risks into opportunities.