Our Ocean, Our Investment: Calls for Scalable Finance Echo at UNOC3
- pvblic
- Jun 18
- 4 min read
NICE, FRANCE – 11 June 2025
As world leaders, scientists, civil society, and private sector representatives gather for the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, the urgency to mobilize financing for ocean action is front and center. In response, PVBLIC Foundation, the Development Bank for Resilient Prosperity (DBRP), the UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge, and the University of Surrey co-hosted a high-level side event: "Our Ocean, Our Investment: Unlocking Finance and Innovation for a Blue Future."
The event opened with remarks from global leaders, including Sergio Fernández de Córdova, Executive Chairman of PVBLIC Foundation, who underscored the need to reimagine how ocean solutions are funded.
“If we are to address the systemic underfinancing of ocean solutions, we must reimagine how capital is mobilized—moving from fragmented efforts to coordinated, cross-sector financing strategies that truly value the ocean as a global asset. This is not just about conservation; it’s about economic resilience, social equity, and long-term planetary stability,” said Fernández de Córdova.
Our Ocean, Our Greatest Asset
The first panel focused on how tokenization and digital finance are transforming marine asset valuation—positioning blue carbon, fisheries, and marine biodiversity as investable, measurable natural capital. Experts emphasized the need for digital tools to quantify ecosystem services and align private capital with long-term stewardship goals.
Dr. Hyginus "Gene" Leon, Executive Director of the Development Bank for Resilient Prosperity (DBRP), addressed the structural financing challenges facing the most vulnerable coastal communities:
“We face a paradox: the highest vulnerability to climate and ocean-related shocks lies in regions with the least access to affordable finance. By redefining risk and embracing nature as an asset class, we can unlock new financial flows that empower coastal communities and Small Island Developing States to build resilience from the ground up.”
Diplomatic and institutional leaders—including H.E. Va’inga Tone, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga and Ashaki Goodwin, Director of Government Affairs of the PVBLIC Foundation—shared national and global perspectives on how community-centered investments can support sustainable ocean governance and unlock new opportunities across sectors. “We want innovation that respects Pacific values, community rights, and intergenerational equity,” explained Ambassador Tone. “We want a seat at the table as new financial frameworks are designed—because what works for large economies may not serve small islands.”
Marine Innovation: The Right Business Decision
The second panel showcased innovative solutions from the UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge and Youth4Climate, emphasizing their potential for both environmental impact and economic viability. Speakers highlighted the importance of inclusive design, community ownership, and replicable models in ensuring the long-term success of ocean innovations.
Dr. Raffaella Guida, Deputy Director of the Surrey Space Centre, stressed the importance of local knowledge in driving resilient, scalable solutions. Ocean innovators such as Eduardo Leitón (Fundación OneSea), Fabiani Appavou (UNDP MCO for Mauritius & Seychelles), and Shabib Asghar (Project Reef Revival Initiative) brought in diverse perspectives from legal, institutional, and youth-led initiatives. Each shared concrete examples of how innovation is not just a response to climate challenges, but a proactive investment in community-driven progress.
Scaling Private Financing for the Seas
In the final panel, speakers explored how public and private capital can converge to finance long-term ocean health. Institutional leaders—including Erik Korsgren (Sida), Cyrille Barnerias (Office Français de la Biodiversité), and H.E. Colin Murdoch (OECS Mission) —discussed enabling frameworks that support de-risking, cross-border collaboration, and measurable impact. “Our oceans are not just climate buffers — they are balance sheet assets waiting to be unlocked,” explained Ambassador Murdoch.
Moderated by Asha Challenger (Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda), the session addressed the critical role of development banks, impact investment instruments, and blended finance models in closing the $150 billion annual financing gap for ocean action. Key lessons from the MDB Ocean Coalition and the Finance in Common network also illustrated how international institutions can lead with purpose, data, and scale.
As the world races toward the adoption of the Nice Ocean Action Plan, the message is clear: ocean innovation cannot advance without financing that matches the scale of the challenge. New public-private partnerships, crowdfunding efforts, and impact bonds are emerging as powerful tools to drive systemic change. The panelists underscored the need for SIDS to be co-creators of finance solutions in future partnerships–not just recipients.
In the lead-up to the adoption of a political declaration, partners reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration, innovation, and equity, ensuring ocean communities are equipped with the tools and resources to thrive.
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