Catalysing a Sustainable Blue Economy

The oceans' power trade feeds billions, stores vast carbon stocks, and hosts the fastest-growing frontiers in clean energy and biotechnology. However, unchecked extraction, climate change, and plastic pollution threaten to sink these benefits just as coastal and island states look to the sea for post-pandemic growth. The blue economy - covering everything from regenerative aquaculture and eco-tourism to offshore wind and digital shipping corridors - offers a pathway to prosperity that keeps marine ecosystems intact. This session will explore how the Indo-Pacific can scale ocean-based industries while safeguarding biodiversity and coastal livelihoods.

• How can regional partnerships harmonise standards and accelerate cross-border blue-economy corridors across the Indo-Pacific?
• What financing instruments can be leveraged for developing the blue economy?
• Which policy levers can mitigate the trade-off between conservation goals and economic growth?