Blue Finance in Action

Hosted by the UK Government, the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB) and the Development Bank for Resilient Prosperity (DBRP), this 60-minute side event will be held in person at the UK Pavilion. Many marine protected areas in SIDS and climate-vulnerable coastal countries are under-financed ‘paper parks’, and national budgets cannot cover their long-term management. Nature credits can provide that revenue, while helping these countries finance blue economy strategies that are positive for nature. This session moves from design to delivery. It shows how nature credits can unlock new investment in MPAs and in national blue economy strategies, and help deliver ocean 30x30 under Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The session will build on Niue’s Ocean Conservation Certificate, currently the only existing SIDS nature credit model for MPA financing, and begin designing scalable pilots. Where appropriate, the session will also explore how the carbon component of nature credits for MPAs could be eligible for international transfer under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Moderated by Marianne Haahr, Executive Director of IAPB, the session opens with scene-setting from Ruth Davis, UK Special Representative for Nature, followed by video remarks from Dame Amelia Fawcett, co-Chair of IAPB, on how nature credits can build resilient economies and unlock finance at scale for ocean stewards. The Niue model will be presented, alongside country perspectives from: Minister Mona Ainu’u, Niue Dr. Felismina Antia, Director of Sea Matters, Mozambique Atty. Shanelle Napoles, Biodiversity Management Bureau, Philippines H.E. Kevin Hope, Ambassador/Adviser (Finance, Climate and Investments), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Hon. Julian Fraser, Deputy Premier, British Virgin Islands Gene Leon, Executive Director of DBRP will then give the finance perspective. The session closes with a call to action to join the pilot cohort and follower groups. This event will take place in the UK Pavilion within the Blue Zone.