The Blue Economy and Finance Forum

Protecting the ocean is a global responsibility, not only to preserve the planet’s largest carbon sink and diverse marine ecosystems, but also to support the livelihoods and economies that depend on it. For coastal nations, the ocean represents significant economic opportunities and a natural heritage. A sustainable and regenerative blue economy is essential to protect the ocean while fostering economic growth.

The OECD predicts the economic value of the ocean will surpass $3 trillion by 2030, making it the world’s fifth-largest economy. The ocean is crucial for global trade, food security, and the development of sustainable energy solutions such as offshore wind power and decarbonized maritime transport. Additionally, marine genetic resources present vast potential for sectors like medicine and agriculture.

However, to realize this potential, international cooperation is needed to prevent resource depletion, slow ocean acidification, protect marine ecosystems, reduce overfishing, and curb ocean pollution. Ensuring fair access to the benefits of the blue economy and safeguarding marine resources is critical to creating a sustainable future.

It is to create this new regenerative and sustainable ocean economy that the Blue Economy and Finance Forum will be held on June 7 and 8, 2025 at Monaco's Forum Grimaldi, in partnership with the Principality of Monaco, as a special event of UNOC 2025.

What are Blue Economy and Finance Forum’s concrete objectives?

By gathering experts, policymakers, investors and innovators from around the world, the Forum will highlight and promote the critical role that sustainable investment, cutting-edge innovation, and forward-thinking policies play in ensuring the long-term health and prosperity of our oceans and economies alike. The BEFF will serve as a platform to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, and showcase the latest developments in the blue economy, with a clear focus on creating a resilient and thriving ocean ecosystem that benefits present and future generations.