Blue Finance

Integrating the Ocean into Climate Policy

The marine space makes up most of the planet and delivers crucial ecosystem services but is critically affected by climate change and other stressors. As a result, its ability to absorb CO2 and deliver O2 is compromised, resulting in warming, storm surges and sea level rise. blue finance is about funding measures to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change on the ocean. 

In addition, a global ocean data network can help to overcome gaps in climate modelling and marine governance.

Blue finance can address the needs of multiple ocean users: 

Integrate marine spatial planning for resilient coastal infrastructure 

Apply existing and emerging funding mechanisms to marine spaces 

Deliver enhanced ocean governance 

Offer opportunities for new technologies, eco-innovation and private sector engagement.


We need to create a "blue finance hub" as a knowledge, skills and project preparation centre, an "Ocean Sustainability Bank institutional proposals.

 Torsten Thiele, Visiting Fellow at the LSE Institute of Global Affairs delivered a talk on blue finance on June 7, 2016 and outlined the conceptual backgrou to blue finance, addressed practical issues and suggested specific approaches.

The Paris Agreement opens the door for scaling green finance; blue finance is a necessary complementing innovation to achieve scale and impact. 

By delivering green coastal infrastructure that protects and supports ecosystem integrity this new approach can help both coastal adaptation and climate mitigation.