Blue finance: integrating the ocean into climate policy

The Institute of Global Affairs and the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment will jointly host a lunchtime seminar by IGA Visiting Fellow Torsten Thiele on the new frontier of the climate change agenda: Blue Finance.

The marine space makes up most of the planet and delivers crucial services but is critically affected by climate change and other stressors. As a result, its ability to absorb CO₂ and deliver O₂ is compromised, resulting in warming storms and sea level rise in particular coastal zones. Blue finance is about funding measures to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change on oceans. By delivering green coastal infrastructure that protects and supports ecosystem integrity this new approach can help coastal adaptation and climate mitigation. In addition, a global ocean data network can help to overcome gaps in climate modelling and marine governance. The Paris Agreement opens the door for scaling green finance; blue finance is a necessary complementing innovation to achieve scale and impact. The talk will cover the conceptual background, address practical issues and suggest specific institutional proposals.

Torsten initially presented the blue finance concept at the UNESCO World Ocean Day conference and the ocean-climate-platform at COP 21 in Paris. He combines a long experience in infrastructure finance with keen ocean advocacy. Torsten holds degrees in law and economics from Bonn University, an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School and an MPhil in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge. In 2014 he was a Harvard 2014 Advanced Leadership Fellow and taught a seminar on Arctic Futures at Harvard Kennedy School. He has been a Visiting Fellow at the LSE’s Institute of Global Affairs since autumn 2015.

Please confirm your attendance at your earliest convenience and no later than Wednesday, June 1st at g.e.miric@lse.ac.uk. Refreshments will be served.