In June, Monaco will take center stage by hosting the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (Beff) on June 7 and 8, a major event leading up to the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice. In the Mediterranean context, Beff aims to drive urgent investments to restore ocean health and build a sustainable, regenerative blue economy — a critically important yet still underfunded sector.
Led by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and jointly organized by the Monaco Government, the Prince Albert II Foundation, and the Oceanographic Institute, the forum will gather a powerful lineup of global finance leaders, policymakers, industry heads, and environmental experts. Supported by France and Costa Rica, Beff is a direct response to the financing gap threatening progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 14. Of the $175 billion needed annually to protect marine ecosystems, only $25 billion has been mobilized so far. Monaco is determined to close this gap and send a strong message ahead of the UN Ocean Summit.
Prince Albert II stressed the urgency of the mission, stating:
“Together, we will mobilize the necessary investments — both public and private — for a sustainable blue economy, laying the foundations for a future that unites human progress with planetary preservation.”
Over two action-packed days, the forum will host high-level plenary sessions, panels, and interactive “solution hubs” addressing issues ranging from marine conservation financing to maritime decarbonization, biodiversity credits, and blue tech innovation. The conference will open with Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, and will feature key contributions from global leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles.
The agenda also includes heavyweight voices such as Ray Dalio, Andrew Forrest, and Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, all lending weight to Monaco’s hope that the forum will be one of action rather than empty promises. A Blue Innovation Hub will showcase breakthrough technologies already deployed to protect marine ecosystems and revolutionize maritime industries.
Beff is one of many major events leading up to the third UN Ocean Conference in Nice from June 9 to 13, 2025, expected to be the largest-ever summit on ocean issues. With Monaco setting the tone, the message is clear: the era of vague commitments is over. It is time to finance the future of our oceans — or face the consequences of continued neglect.
