How ethical and sustainable finance are transforming the Blue Economy

The blue economy represents one of the greatest contemporary opportunities to reconcile economic development with the protection of oceans and marine ecosystems.

With increasing environmental pressure caused by climate change, ethical and sustainable finance play a crucial role in catalysing this transition. Hence, the main objective of the blue economy is to balance the use of marine resources with the need to preserve them for future generations and, to do so, global policies and financial instruments must be aligned to support sustainable growth.

Thus, on the one hand, agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework, together with initiatives such as the European Green Deal and China’s Fourteenth Five-Year Plan, which create a policy framework to promote the integration of economic development and the protection of marine ecosystems, aim to reduce emissions and promote biodiversity. On the other hand, sustainable finance together with ethical finance channel investments towards responsible and regenerative projects, promoting the use of instruments such as green bonds and climate loans, which help to finance projects linked to renewable energy, coastal regeneration and sustainable fishing.

These financial instruments, based on ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria, allow companies to rethink their operating models in a more sustainable way.
 

Where ethical and sustainable finance meet the green economy

The blue economy increasingly benefits from projects for the protection of marine biodiversity, which is essential since the sea is home to 80% of living species. The Blue Bond Initiative, promoted by the World Bank and the Seychelles, is an example of how ethical finance can mobilise resources for the creation of marine reserves. Another project is the Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility (Bncff) which, together with the United Nations Green Climate Fund, supports initiatives to regenerate coasts and protect marine ecosystems. 

Another concrete example is related to the expansion of offshore renewable energy. According to the International Energy Agency, offshore wind could grow fifteen-fold by 2040, turning into a $1 trillion industry. An iconic project of this sort is the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the United Kingdom, destined to become the largest offshore wind farm in the world, and capable of supplying energy to 6 million homes. This project was financed by one of the largest GSS (green, social, and sustainability) loans, demonstrating how finance can support sustainable development.

Sustainable aquaculture is also a crucial sector. FAO predicts that by 2030, 62% of fish intended for human consumption will come from aquaculture, but this sector requires clean technologies to reduce the use of antibiotics and limit environmental impacts. 

The Aqua-Spark fund is investing in these technologies, supporting small and medium-sized companies such as Matorka, an Icelandic farm that has developed an innovative method of land-based farming without the use of antibiotics, chemicals or hormones.