The ocean economy sustains millions of livelihoods and underpins some of the world’s most vital industries. From maritime transport—which facilitates 80% of global trade—to submarine fiber optic cables that transmit 95% of the world’s data, oceans are deeply embedded in our societies and daily lives. According to some projections, ocean-based sectors could generate over $3 trillion annually by 2030.
However, oceans are much more than an economic engine. As key natural regulators of the Earth’s climate, they absorb approximately 30% of carbon dioxide emissions, capture 90% of excess heat, and store 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere. Sadly, the ocean’s ability to deliver these vital services is approaching a critical tipping point.
The urgency to invest in sustainable solutions has never been greater—and it represents a unique opportunity to unlock large-scale financial flows. The ocean economy is now a multi-trillion-dollar investment frontier, spanning a wide range of sectors that depend on healthy marine ecosystems: renewable energy, coastal infrastructure, ports, shipping, sustainable fisheries, and aquaculture. The cost of inaction is simply too high—and it continues to rise.
Yet these investment opportunities remain largely underexploited. Although forecasts suggest rapid growth in the blue economy, potentially exceeding $3.2 trillion by 2030, a significant financing gap continues to hinder sustainable development and innovation in ocean-related sectors. With extreme weather events, sea level rise, and coastal change increasingly disrupting key industries and communities, this funding shortfall poses a serious threat to climate resilience and long-term economic growth.
Between 2012 and 2022, only $13 billion was invested in ocean sustainability, primarily through official development assistance and philanthropic sources. This reflects a widespread perception that ocean-based ventures carry more risks than potential returns, with investors frequently citing regulatory uncertainty, market fragmentation, and a lack of bankable projects.
To unlock the full potential of a sustainable blue economy, policymakers and business leaders must focus on three key priorities:
First, they must recognize that oceans represent a high-growth investment opportunity.
Blue finance has traditionally centered on conservation and restoration efforts—which are essential, but insufficient to drive the systemic change required to safeguard ocean health. Achieving this change requires acknowledging that large-scale projects can deliver financial returns while also building climate resilience and fostering inclusive economic growth. Scalable, commercially viable projects are possible in sectors such as offshore renewable energy, maritime transport, coastal infrastructure, industrial aquaculture, and ports.
Second, attracting private capital requires de-risking ocean investments. Project developers and industry stakeholders must work closely with multilateral development banks, insurers, and philanthropic organizations to mitigate perceived risks through concessional finance and first-loss guarantees—measures that reduce upfront costs and encourage private sector participation.
Third, the pipeline of investable ocean projects must be expanded. While funding gaps are often cited, a major barrier to capital deployment is the limited availability of mature, scalable projects. Bridging this gap will require coordinated action across borders and sectors.
The offshore wind sector offers a promising model. Innovations like Shanghai Electric Wind Power’s recyclable turbine blades illustrate how combining capital, cutting-edge technology, and knowledge sharing can drive progress.
Such efforts can be reinforced by policy frameworks like Costa Rica’s National Decarbonization Plan, which aims to reach 100% renewable energy by 2050. By implementing strong biodiversity protection and land-use regulations, the plan has helped unlock more than $3 billion in renewable energy infrastructure investments.
By protecting marine ecosystems and embedding social and environmental resilience in their investment strategies, ocean-based industries can also deliver long-term value to local communities.
Examples like Singapore’s investments in zero-emission bunkering and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ promotion of green infrastructure show that sustainability and economic dynamism can go hand in hand. The World Economic Forum’s initiative to accelerate the transition to nature- and people-positive ports further supports these efforts.
The next five years will be critical. Two upcoming events—the United Nations Ocean Conference and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in June—will provide investors, development banks, and policymakers with the opportunity to advance innovative financing mechanisms, foster cross-sector partnerships, and align financial strategies with the long-term vision of a prosperous and sustainable blue economy.
This moment is defined by both unprecedented risks and remarkable opportunities. By aligning capital flows with ocean regeneration, we can spark the systemic transformation needed to build a resilient blue economy—one that protects marine ecosystems, empowers communities, and ensures shared prosperity for future generations.
