Resources

Latest Publications

Harmful marine extractives: Deep-Sea Mining

The deep sea contains many of the most pristine ecosystems on our planet and plays a crucial role in regulating the climate. Plans to mine this unique and complex area of our planet would create irreversible ecosystem and habitat loss, ...

Harmful marine extractives: Offshore Oil & Gas

The science is clear, reaching “net zero” by 2050 will require a rapid, deep and sustained reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions and a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), no ...

Harmful marine extractives: Dredging & marine aggregate extraction

Dredging and marine aggregate extraction are highly damaging to seabed habitats, leading to the loss and removal of species, and stress on marine life. However, dredging is needed for a number of sectors that can contribute to a sustainable blue ...

Diving Deep: Finance, Ocean Pollution and Coastal Resilience

This science-based, actionable toolkit aims to help banks, insurers and investors align decision-making with a healthy ocean and a sustainable blue economy. The Diving Deep Guidance helps you break the pollution cycle, including plastics and other solid waste, and manage ...

Recommended Exclusions for Financing a Sustainable Blue Economy

UNEP FI’s recommended exclusions list for a sustainable blue economy presents an overview of activities to exclude from financing due to their damaging impact on the ocean and high risk. It examines multiple ocean-related activities and covers various sectors including ...

Turning the Tide: How to Finance a Sustainable Ocean Recovery

A practical guide for financial institutions to lead a sustainable ocean recovery This seminal guidance is a market-first practical toolkit for financial institutions to pivot their activities towards financing a sustainable blue economy. Designed for banks, insurers and investors, the ...

View more Blue Finance publications

Podcasts

Restoring ocean health through finance

Dennis Fritsch, Sustainable Blue Finance Lead at UNEP FI and Dorothee Herr, Oceans & Climate Change Manager at IUCN discuss ocean health, its role in regulating the global climate, its economic value and the role that financial institutions can play in restoring this vital ecosystem. In this compelling conversation, they also introduce us to UNEP FI’s Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles and IUCN’s Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility, helping financial institutions and project developers take part in a sustainable blue economy. Listen to podcast here.

Financing a just transition to a sustainable economy

Including social equity considerations in investment decisions and processes is critical for the blue economy to deliver its full potential in addressing global challenges. In this episode, we look at the human dimension of the sustainable blue economy, focusing on the role of financial actors. Five experts from the academic, NGO and finance communities join the conversation, giving insights on how organisations can finance a blue economy that is sustainable, economically viable, and socially equitable. Listen to the podcast here.