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  4. Scaling Ocean Conservation and Economic Development Through Regional Blue Bonds In The Framework of The Great Blue Wall

Scaling ocean conservation and economic development through regional blue bonds in the framework of the Great Blue Wall

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The Great Blue Wall is a Western Indian Ocean (WIO)-led, Africa driven roadmap to achieve a nature positive world by 2030. It aims to unlock unprecedented nature-based recovery efforts through the establishment of a transformational movement. Its goal is to dramatically accelerate and upscale ocean conservation actions (SDG14) while enhancing socio-ecological resilience (SDG 15) and the development of a regenerative blue economy by catalysing political leadership and financial support.    

Addressing the interlinked challenges that cut across biodiversity decline, climate change and socio-economy, the initiative has set ambitious targets to protect two million Km2 of protected and conserved areas, achieve net-gain of critical blue ecosystems by conserving and restoring more than two million Ha of ecosystems and consequently sequester more than 100 million tons of carbon, and unlocking regenerative livelihood opportunities for 70 million people in the Western Indian Ocean.    In line with the Kigali declaration of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, calling for support to the “Great Blue Wall” initiative to build climate-resilient societies and economies, and sustainable use of marine resources, to open up new opportunities for gender-sensitive (SDG 5) and inclusive blue entrepreneurship, innovation, finance, value-chains and trade, enhancing the capacity of African countries to attract large scale investment for blue-based activities is a priority.      

Given the strong transboundary dimension of the Blue Economy, the importance of regional governing frameworks to manage sustainably the related resources, and the specificity of a number of African member States that are small and fragile economies, the issuance of Regional Blue bonds could significantly improve impact investors interest if managed regionally through special purpose vehicles.    

This side event builds on the high-level commitments that have been made since the launch of the initiative with political and government leaders from the region and will aim to highlight financing solutions through regional blue bonds to achieve the initiative's goals.  

Register here for the side-event