The Funding Atlantic Network for Blue Economy Technology Transfer (FANBEST) has identified a worrying lack of adequate funding opportunities to help conserve the world’s oceans and marine resources.
The Funding Atlantic Network for Blue Economy Technology Transfer (FANBEST) has identified a worrying lack of adequate funding opportunities to help conserve the world’s oceans and marine resources.
As a result, almost a third of asset owners (28 per cent) are not addressing sustainable blue economy themes in their investment portfolios and missing out on the plethora of investment-ready opportunities that blue economy businesses present.
Whilst the value of global ocean assets is estimated at over USD24 trillion, making it the 7th largest economy in the world in GDP terms, the blue economy is one of the least invested sectors. This is a concerning fact given a key United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
The main barriers for investors, according to The Investors and Blue Economy Credit Suisse Report, are around a lack of internal expertise and, for asset owners, a lack of guidance on investment product offering or sustainable investment topics.
Ben Rotheray, FANBEST Business Coach and Founder and Managing Director of The Value Engine, says: “What’s positive is the good amount of appetite from investors for blue economy investment. The desire and willingness to invest is there but there’s not enough knowledge or expertise for investors to make informed investment decisions to fully embrace the huge opportunities blue economy businesses offer.
“The blue economy has great potential, on par if not greater than the green economy, as it becomes increasingly important in the global fight against climate change.
“There’s a golden opportunity for investors to support those businesses who play a key role in helping to conserve our oceanic resources – we just need to make that opportunity more accessible and understandable.
“Climate change mitigation and adaption via marine renewables and tackling marine plastic pollution are two rapidly growing blue economy sectors that harbour the strongest investment opportunities.
“This is where investors can truly get ahead of the game, make the right investment choices now as the sustainable approach to living becomes ever more paramount.
“We need to strengthen blue economy investment conditons and develop innovative finance approaches to reduce risk.
“In doing so, we can truly unleash the blue economy’s investment potential.”
Executive director at Greenbackers Investment Capital, Andrew Smith is working with FANBEST to help educate investors around blue economy sustainable investment. He wants to demonstrate how they can get ahead of the curve in a new wave of sustainable investment and the huge rewards it’s poised to offer.
On Wednesday 4 November, Smith is bringing his expertise to a webinar hosted by FANBEST, where he will dive into the opportunities for private funding in the blue economy.
