Scaling ocean conservation and economic development through regional blue bonds in the framework of the Great Blue Wall
The Great Blue Wall is a Western Indian Ocean (WIO)-led, Africa driven roadmap to achieve a nature positive world by 2030. 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.
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 sustainable financing solutions like regional blue bonds to achieve the initiative's goals.
Visit the official event page for more information.
Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/5d2ecr47
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