Sector

Blue Economy Finance

Protecting oceans by making marine conservation financially compelling.

The Challenge

Oceans Generate $1.5T Annually Yet Are Critically Underfunded

The ocean economy generates $1.5T in annual economic value (OECD), yet marine conservation receives less than 1% of global philanthropic spending. The blue finance gap is estimated at $175B annually.

The blue bond market is nascent and fragmented. BwB is at the forefront contributing to ICMA Blue Bond Principles, working with the Asian Development Bank's Blue Bond Incubator, and serving as lead finance partner for the European CINEA OCEAN Mission.

$175B
Annual blue finance gap for ocean conservation
Source: UNEP FI Blue Economy Finance

Our Approach

How BwB Works in Blue Economy Finance

01

Blue Framework Development

Develop blue financing frameworks aligned with nations' Nationally Determined Contributions including contribution to ICMA Blue Bond Principles documentation for Pacific Island Nations.

02

Blue Bond Structuring & Incubation

Structure blue bond issuances for corporate and sovereign issuers. Working with ADB to develop its Blue Bond Incubator supporting replication and de-risking of blue bond issuances in Asia-Pacific.

03

Credit Enhancement & Market Building

Design credit enhancement mechanisms for blue bond transactions. Deliver training for sovereigns and advance standardisation of global blue bond principles.

Financial Instruments

Key Instruments We Deploy

Sovereign Blue Bonds

Government-issued bonds to finance sustainable ocean economy activities aligned with ICMA Blue Bond Principles and linked to MPA and fisheries management targets.

↳ Investment Banking

Corporate Blue Bonds

Corporate blue bond structures for shipping, aquaculture, and coastal infrastructure companies committing to ocean sustainability standards.

↳ Financial Advisory

Conservation Finance

Blended finance structures for marine protected areas combining philanthropic, concessional, and commercial capital to secure long-term conservation outcomes.

↳ Investment Banking

Blue Carbon Finance

Structuring access to blue carbon markets for coastal ecosystem projects enabling mangrove, seagrass, and saltmarsh restoration to generate carbon revenues.

↳ Financial Advisory

Blue Economy

CINEA OCEAN Mission Lead Finance Partner

BwB is the lead finance partner of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) OCEAN Mission providing guidance on blue financial instruments and actively contributing to the advancement of the blue economy across European waters.

European UnionCINEA · EU Horizon
Blue Economy

Pacific Island Nations Blue Financing Framework

Developing a blue financing framework aligned with Pacific nations' Nationally Determined Contributions. Contributing to ICMA Blue Bond Principles documentation for the Pacific region alongside UNDP, ADB, IFC, and UN Global Compact.

Pacific IslandsUNDP · ICMA Partnership

Working on a Blue Economy project?

Talk to our Blue Economy Finance specialists. BwB is the lead finance partner for the EU OCEAN Mission.

Contact Our Team