The United Nations has launched the Ocean Investment Protocol, a strategic guide aimed at helping investors, banks, insurers, and financial institutions channel capital into the ocean economy. The protocol seeks to unlock financing for sustainable ocean ventures while aligning investments with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Designed to provide clarity and practical tools, the protocol targets financial actors, governments, and development agencies. It outlines how they can support the growth of ocean-based industries—such as offshore renewable energy, sustainable fisheries, and climate-resilient infrastructure—while managing environmental risks and maximizing returns.
The UN emphasizes the ocean economy’s critical role in global trade and economic stability. Ocean-related sectors underpin 90% of global trade volume and contribute significantly to energy and food security. The blue economy is projected to reach a market value of $5.5 trillion by 2050, making it a lucrative area for responsible investment.
Eric Usher, head of the UN Environment Program Finance Initiative, said, “The Ocean Investment Protocol equips financial institutions with clear guidance to mobilize capital for a sustainable and inclusive ocean economy. It addresses the urgent need to invest in sectors that can deliver both economic growth and ocean health.”
Key features of the protocol include:
Risk Management and Growth Opportunities: Guidance for banks, investors, and insurers on balancing environmental risks with growth in emerging ocean sectors.
Transparency and Reporting: Recommendations to improve disclosure of nature-related financial risks, aligning with global frameworks like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Sector-Specific Roadmaps: Tailored investment pathways for fisheries, offshore renewables, and other ocean industries.
Policy and Regulatory Support: Advice on developing ocean finance-friendly policies that encourage private sector participation.
Pipeline Development: Strategies to build sustainable investment projects in emerging markets and coastal communities.
Sanda Ojiambo, CEO of the UN Global Compact, highlighted the protocol’s role in accelerating responsible investment. “It provides a blueprint for financial institutions and governments to make ocean health a priority while capturing economic opportunities.”
The protocol also stresses that finance alone cannot solve ocean challenges. Policymakers must create enabling environments that make sustainable ocean investments attractive and secure. “Aligning capital with ocean health is essential for long-term prosperity and resilience,” Usher added.
By providing a clear framework for investment, the Ocean Investment Protocol aims to mobilize the trillions of dollars needed to protect marine ecosystems and support sustainable economic growth in the blue economy.
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