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Financing Healthy Oceans and Waters: A Consultation on a Mission Approach

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Published on: Thu, 08/04/2021 - 10:53
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    Event details

    When: Tuesday, 20 April 2021, 14:00 – 16:00 CET

    Where: WebEx

    Registration required

     

    Financing Healthy Oceans and Waters: A consultation on a Mission approach

    In September 2020, the European Commission released an Independent Expert Report by the Mission Board for Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters, titled, “Mission Starfish 2030: Restore Our Ocean and Waters”. The study outlined various interactive and cumulating threats to oceans and waters and set out an ambitious, coherent and holistic vision to restore healthy oceans and waters by 2030.

    An implementation plan will be proposed, based on that report that will address the actors, activities, tools and systems that need to be mobilised to reach 3 main objectives; reducing pollution, regenerating degraded ecosystems and decarbonising the blue economy. This investors’ consultation shall aim to provide a first-level feedback on the implementation plan of Ocean, seas and waters Mission, from the perspective of the investor and corporate community.

    How can stakeholders work together to efficiently, effectively and coherently mobilise investment to achieve this Mission by 2030?

     

    Objectives

    This workshop will bring together impact funds, foundations, accelerators, corporate venture capital, private banks and other stakeholders for green financing to:

    • Provide feedback on the main objectives of the implementation plan for the Ocean, Seas and Waters Mission
    • Identify avenues of opportunity, possible mechanisms, conditions for co-financing actions and initiatives under this Mission
    • Discuss ideas where collaborations could be made to coherently scale up investments toward the restoration of healthy oceans and waters
    • Identify early-stage ambassadors – impact investors that are already committed to a target and who can support the raising of public awareness and co-financing

     

    Agenda | Tue 20 April 2021

    14:00 – 14:05

    Welcome remarks by DG MARE

    14:05 – 14:55

    Panel Discussion: Ocean, Seas and Waters Mission

    Presentation of the three objectives and the enablers, their targets and supporting action plans. The interventions should emphasise on concrete actions, what is needed and the projected financing to be raised.

    • Objective 1: Regenerating marine and water ecosystems
    • Objective 2: Zero pollution
    • Objective 3: Contribution of blue economy in decarbonisation
    • Enabler: Knowledge (Digital)

     

    Investors Poll

    An online poll will be launched, with the following proposed questions:

    • Which objective can you see yourself investing in?
    • Which objective will have the most challenging investment path?

    14:55 – 15:10

    Moderated Q & A Session

    15:10 – 15:55

    IdeaLab: Financing Models for Mission

    Session attendees will be divided into three moderated focus groups; each group is assigned one of the three objectives.

    Each group is presented to a virtual MURAL canvas where they can discuss and post about new or existing blended finance mechanisms and other ideas where new collaborations or partnerships could support the scaling up of investments to meet the financing target of the objective.

    As a follow up to this, the BlueInvest team can conduct e-introductions, where relevant or useful, between project or idea holders and potential partners or stakeholders to start a discussion.

    15:55 – 16:00

    Conclusion and wrap-up

     

    What to expect?

    • Panel Discussion

    Up to five speakers will be invited to present the Ocean, Seas and Waters Mission, the challenges, the plan, and what is needed in the current context, including the financing need, in order to move ahead.

    • Interactive Session: Virtual IdeaLab

    Attendees are divided into three groups (one per objective) and presented to a virtual MURAL canvas where they can discuss and post about new or existing blended finance mechanisms and other ideas where new collaborations or partnerships could support the scaling up of investments to meet the financing target of the objective.

     

    Virtual Investors Webinars

    Virtual Investors Webinars aim to engage impact funds, foundations, accelerators, corporate venture capital, private banks and other mechanisms for green financing who are interested in investing into a sustainable Blue Economy.

    These stakeholders play a vital role in mobilising private investment, particularly in sustainable technologies, services and business models, to boost the development of Europe’s Blue Economy. As representatives of industry, they may also act as thought leaders who can influence private sector groups and create a multiplier effect.

    The virtual investors webinars shall be organised to increase investor awareness on:

    • How to fully realise the potential of the blue economy and deliver economic growth through investment in sustainable solutions
    • How to foster more meaningful interactions between the three main stakeholder groups: investor community, the innovation ecosystem and corporate end-users, to mobilise actions that will scale up a digital transition and the green recovery
    • How to practically consider or apply new frameworks, methods and mechanisms to sustainably engage with key blue economy impact sectors: marine renewable energy, seafood, ports, maritime transport and coastal and marine tourism.

    The outcomes of the webinars feed into the approach of the BlueInvest platform, within its mission to boost innovation and investment in technologies for a sustainable blue economy, by supporting readiness and access to finance for early-stage businesses, SMEs and scale-ups.