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Environment

ADB promotes and invests in nature and environmental sustainability to achieve economic growth and reduce poverty in Asia and the Pacific.

Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies

ADB recognizes that investments in ocean health and blue economies are critical to strengthen resilience, improve food security, protect cultural heritage, and catalyze economic transformation in Asia and the Pacific.

In 2019, ADB launched the Healthy Oceans Action Plan to scale up investments and technical assistance to $5 billion between 2019 and 2024. The Action Plan aims to protect and restore coastal and marine ecosystems, promote inclusive livelihood opportunities, grow sustainable blue economies, build resilient coastal communities, and contribute to food security in Asia and the Pacific.

Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies
Progress towards the 2024 $5 billion target: 98%

$2.2 Billion in Commitments (2019-2022)

$2.7 Billion in the Pipeline (2023-2024)

Flagship Programs

Coastal Resilience

Coastal Resilience

Enhancing the resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and island nations through nature-based adaptation investments

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Plastic-free Oceans

Plastic-free Oceans

Accelerating action to reduce marine plastic pollution and transition to a circular economy

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Sustainable Seafood

Sustainable Seafood

Supporting blue livelihoods and restorative marine value chains

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Ocean Finance

Ocean Finance

Increasing the amount and efficacy of ocean finance through innovative mechanisms

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Partnerships in Action

ADB has strong ocean partnerships with:

Global Environment Facility
European Investment Bank
The Nature Conservancy
Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance
United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative
United Nations Global Compact
World Wildlife Fund

Funds, Facilities, and Advisory Services

Finance Mechanisms

Blue Bond Incubator
Research and development of sovereign and corporate blue bonds

Coral Reef Insurance
Developing and piloting novel parametric insurance in Fiji, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Solomon Islands

Developing Green Ports and Maritime Decarbonization Financing
Enabling investments in green, resilient port infrastructure and maritime decarbonization technologies

Subregional Hubs

Blue Southeast Asia Finance Hub
Platform to develop enabling conditions, structure, and finance to accelerate public and private ocean investments and blue initiatives in Southeast Asia

Blue Pacific Finance Hub
Platform to foster collaboration, develop enabling conditions, and prepare and implement $500 million in ocean investments

SME BlueIMPACT Asia Platform

Accelerating and financing small and medium ocean enterprises

Perspectives on Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies

Experts

Katharine Thoday
Katharine Thoday

Principal Environment Specialist

Ghislain de Valon
Ghislain de Valon

Senior Infrastructure Specialist (Innovation and Green Finance)

More Experts

James Baker
James Baker

Senior Circular Economy Specialist (Plastic Wastes)

Deborah Robertson
Deborah Robertson

Climate Change Specialist

Thomas Kessler
Thomas Kessler

Principal Finance Specialist (Disaster Insurance)

R. Duncan McIntosh
R. Duncan McIntosh

Senior Regional Maritime Specialist

Steve Peters
Steve Peters

Senior Energy Specialist

Contact

  Email the Environment Thematic Group - Healthy Oceans

Follow on Social Media

 @ADBEnvironment

Key Resources

  • 8 Nov 2022
    Egypt

    Ocean Resilience and Coastal Adaptation in Asia and the Pacific

    This was a two-part session that discussed the issues and challenges faced in implementing coastal climate adaptation and emphasized the central role of oceans in global climate mitigation and adaptation.
      Event details

  • 29 Jun 2022
    Portugal

    Financing the Blue Economy in Asia and the Pacific

    This side event shared emerging experience in developing Blue Finance Roadmaps and opportunities to attract investment through blue bonds, coral reef insurance, and platforms for scaling up blue economy activity.
      Event details

  • 26-28 Jan 2022

    Healthy Oceans Tech and Finance Forum: Innovative Solutions for Asia and the Pacific

    “ADB Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies” - A film by Juergen and Stella Freund
      Watch the video

  • 23 Sep 2021-18 Nov 2021

    ADB Circular Economy Sprint Series - Closing the Circle: Reducing Plastic Pollution and Promoting Green Businesses

    This learning series aimed to (i) introduce the concept of circular economy (CE); (ii) communicate the benefits of applying CE principles to projects and programs; (iii) identify opportunities to mainstream CE in ADB operations; and (iv) upskill ADB project officers on steps to incorporate CE into programs and the early part of project preparation.
      Event details

  • 17 Nov 2021

    Webinar on Ocean Risk Vulnerability Index for Climate Change Assessment: Cases of Fiji, the Philippines, and Bangladesh

    This webinar examined key findings from the Climate Change and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Index Survey and how the index can help government officials visualize and address ocean-related climate threats.
      Event details

  • 8 Jun 2021

    World Oceans Day Webinar, 2021: Gender and Resilience in Coastal Communities

    This webinar provided an overview of the urgent need to consider gender equality in coastal and fisheries resource management.
      Event details

  • 10-11 Nov 2020

    Virtual Conference on Blue Economy and Blue Finance: Towards Sustainable Development and Ocean Governance

    The focus was on the blue economy and blue finance, including related governance planning, sectoral management, and risk management.
      Event details

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