Blue economy podcast
In partnership with international law firm Simmons & Simmons, we're proud to be bringing you "Seas Of Opportunity: Navigating the Blue Economy" - a podcast series dedicated to the blue heart of our planet.
This 18-episode voyage will chart the course through marine conservation, policy, and investment opportunities in the blue economy.
Speaking to experts from a range of backgrounds, we will explore the why and the how of building a sustainable blue economy - an economy where finance and policy measures are geared towards regenerative rather than extractive coastal and ocean activities. These short episodes will cover three core themes: policy & regulation, ocean ecology & conservation, and financial opportunities presented by the sustainable blue economy.
Join us every three weeks for a new episode and dive into the depths of marine innovation and conservation.
Episode 1: Exploring the concept of the Blue Economy
- Sandy Luk & Sonali Siriwardena
In this opening episode, Sonali Siriwardena, Partner and Global Head of ESG at Simmons and Simmons, teams up with our CEO Sandy Luk. Together, they delve into the intriguing realm of the Blue Economy, unravelling the challenges of securing private finance capital for projects aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 14 – ensuring life below water thrives. Tune in as we embark on a journey to navigate the waters of change and opportunity.
Episode 2: Building a sustainable economy around blue natural capital
- Sir Dieter Helm
In our second episode of the series, our natural capital analyst James Merchant was joined by Professor Dieter Helm - professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford and former chair of the Natural Capital Committee – to hear his thoughts on the importance of natural capital in a sustainable blue economy. This builds on the fundamental concept of capital maintenance - our duty to maintain a baseline of natural capital to pass on to the next generation.
Episode 3: International collaboration and frameworks for preserving ocean ecosystems and marine biodiversity
- Minna Epps
In episode three, Minna Epps, Head of the Ocean Program at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) joins Kamile Jankauskyte, ESG analyst at Simmons & Simmons, to discuss international collaboration and frameworks for preserving ocean ecosystems and marine biodiversity. The episode takes a particular focus on the significance of the landmark Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ) treaty.
Episode 4: The role of blue finance in building a sustainable blue economy
- Ted Janulis
Ted Janulis is the founder and principal at Investable Oceans - an investment hub that brings market-based investments to the ocean. At the World Ocean Summit in Lisbon, Ted spoke to Kamile Jankauskyte, ESG Analyst at Simmons & Simmons, about the important role that blue finance has to play in building a sustainable blue economy. The discussion explores the current state of sustainable blue finance and what opportunities lie ahead.
Episode 5: The ocean engine that powers our planet
- Dr Helen Czerski
Dr Helen Czerski is a physicist, oceanographer and author of Blue Machine: How The Ocean Shapes Our World. In episode 5, Helen talks to James Merchant at the Marine Conservation Society about how the physics of the ocean shapes life on planet earth. We learn how this ocean engine makes life possible and how learning to live with it - and not at its expense - is so crucial to carving out a sustainable future for life on Earth.
Episode 6: Financing Ocean-Based Solutions for a Resilient Future
- Dorothée Herr
In episode 6 we speak to sustainable finance and ocean policy expert, Dorothée Herr. Dorothée explains what we mean by ocean-based solutions and their importance for addressing climate change, but also the economic and development gains they can deliver. We consider the role that governments and the private sector can play in scaling up finance to maximise the many benefits that they offer.
Episode 7: The role and importance of local communities and Indigenous knowledge in the blue economy
- Mere Takoko
In episode 7, Sonali Siriwardena at Simmons & Simmons speaks to Mere Takoko, Vice President of Conservation International Aotearoa and founder of the Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative. Mere's leading career in ocean protection combines traditional knowledge with modern science. In this discussion, Mere shares her insights on the vital role that indigenous and local communities have to play in a sustainable blue economy, built around deep cultural and ancestral relationships with the ocean.
Episode 8: What does ocean restoration look like?
- Jean-Luc Solandt
We want a sustainable blue economy to drive large-scale ocean restoration, but what do we mean by ocean restoration and what does it involve? Dr Jean-Luc Solandt joined James Merchant to shed light on what ocean restoration looks like in reality, what the challenges are and how to it can be scaled up. Marine biologist Jean-Luc has dedicated over two decades to marine conservation with lots of hands-on experience in ocean restoration projects.
Episode 9: How the UK Government can deliver a sustainable blue economy
- Belinda Bramley
In this special episode of Seas Of Opportunity with Belinda Bramley and James Merchant, we wanted to highlight what the winners of the 2024 UK election could achieve through a sustainable blue economy and how to do it. Belinda is an environmentalist and independent blue economy consultant with a background in private finance and experience of blue economy practices from around the world.
Episode 10: Understanding Marine Natural Capital
- Dr Sian Rees
The importance of marine natural capital to a sustainable blue economy has been a recurring theme across the series. In episode 10, James Merchant speaks to Dr Sian Rees to understand marine natural capital in more depth and how the concept can be used to inform sustainable decision making. Sian is a marine scientist at the University of Plymouth, specialising in marine conservation, management and policy.
Episode 11: Addressing ocean pollution & the role of local government in ocean recovery
- Emily Cunningham
Emily Cunningham is a marine biologist and renowned ocean conservationist. Emily is also co-founder of Motion For The Ocean, an initiative that empowers local governments to act on ocean health. Emily joined James Merchant for episode 11 of the podcast to discuss the threats of ocean pollution, what a healthy ocean could look like and how to get there. This includes the vital role that local councils can play.
Episode 12: Beyond blue sky thinking, learning from blue projects already in flight
- Ralph Chami
Sonali Siriwardena speaks to Ralph Chami, a distinguished financial economist with a rich background in climate change and biodiversity loss. After 25 years at the International Monetary Fund, Ralph now works towards developing frameworks for valuing natural capital. The aim is to create markets for nature that can shape an equitable and nature-positive economy. The discussion looks beyond theory alone and explores real world possibilities.
Episode 13: Innovation in Insurance: de-risking the blue economy
- Sarah Conway
Sarah Conway, a leader in ecosystem resilience at WTW, explains to Sonali Siriwardena how parametric insurance instruments can enhance the resilience of marine ecosystems and support blue economy stakeholders facing up to the uncertainties of a changing climate. Sarah highlights the role that these innovative insurance products can have in reducing the impact of environmental change on those most affected, as well as incentivising sustainable practices.
Episode 14: Blue Returns - Financing the Future of Marine Conservation
- Nicolas Pascal
Nicolas Pascal is executive director and co-founder of Blue Alliance. Blue Alliance work with governments to manage Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in a way that regenerates marine ecosystems while supporting local communities. In effect, this tackles the finance gap for marine conservation by creating sustainable businesses linked to MPAs. Nicolas joined Sonali Siriwardena to explain the challenges of creating self-sustaining and economically viable MPAs.