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

I have been appointed a trustee at the New Economics Foundation, a UK-based think tank focusing on social, economic and environmental justice.

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. 

A big talking point in the investment world is the financial resilience of companies with high ESG ratings. I am project director of a new Economist Impact study based on two global surveys—one of asset owners and one of companies—to examine how they can find common purpose in ESG.

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.

I am pleased to announce the publication of the latest Food Sustainability Index (FSI), a project that I have directed since 2017. Developed by Economist Impact with the support of the Barilla Foundation, the FSI examines how food systems are performing across three pillars: food loss and waste, sustainable agriculture, and nutritional challenges.

I will moderate a webinar to discuss the results of the Food Sustainability Index (FSI), developed by Economist Impact with the support of the Barilla Foundation. The session will highlight common lessons on how best to tackle key food-systems challenges faced by countries around the world.

I was interviewed by Current± the other day, a news provider that tracks the transition to a decarbonised, digitised and decentralised energy economy. They did a Q&A with me discussing whether the UK is ready for the EV transition. I highlighted the key findings of Economist Impact's rEV Index, supported by bp.

I have been interviewed by the journalist Giorgia Bollati for the Italian ecological magazine Casa Naturale to discuss the findings of Economist Impact's study on decarbonisation technologies in cities, supported by Osborne Clarke.

I am honoured to be a faculty member of the Food & Sustainability course of the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability (EIIS) again this year. The Food Sustainability Index, developed by Economist Impact with the support of the Barilla Foundation, is the main educational tool used during the course.

2021 could be considered the year when climate and sustainability entered the mainstream. So what are the prospects for 2022?

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".

On November 21st I addressed the Dubai International Food Safety Conference 2021 via video message. I focused on the Food Sustainability Index, developed by Economist Impact with the support of the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition Foundation (BCFN).