Page 49 - Livre_MOW2021_EN

THE BLUE ECONOMY AND FINANCE | 47

Policy-makers have set a target to protect 30% Trusted members have shared over $1.4 billion in
of ecosystems by 2030. investment opportunities through 50 companies
Have we reached a turning point for finance? and funds. In March, it promoted 8 opportunities
We are at a turning point in terms of awareness, but and members linked to SDG 14, and made the
we must take action more quickly. The OECD re- community aware of the opportunity and need to
cently valued the benefits from natural ecosystems develop ocean finance.
at around $125 trillion, whilst the loss of biodiversity
continues at a global level, which shows that their Does Monaco Ocean Week offer an opening
economic importance is starting to be recognised. into ocean-related opportunities?
Also, the Dasgupta report sent a clear message on This event encompasses all the values that we
4
the need to change how we “think, act and mea- uphold. The ocean has always been part of the
sure success” around nature. It seems that we are Principality’s history and heritage. Prince Albert I
still looking for the spark which will allow us to take of Monaco was one of the founders of modern
more action at a global level. Efforts to come to- oceanography. HSH Prince Albert II has made a
gether, like Monaco Ocean Week, are becoming commitment to protect the environment and sup-
even more essential to organise, direct and expand port sustainable development on an international
the discussions and actions required to achieve the scale. Thanks to the support of Monaco Ocean
30x30 targets. Week and Barclays Private Bank, we have been
able to improve visibility and access to ocean-re-
What is the market position of the Impact lated opportunities by existing and new stakehol-
Agora investment platform? ders.
Impact Agora has established an institutional mar-
ketplace for impact investment at an early stage,
a fragmented sector, which makes it difficult to 4. According to The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Re-
identify investors and opportunities. To tackle sus- view (February 2021), a study led by Cambridge University for the
British government, global economic development has caused the
tainable investment challenges, Impact Agora has value of humanity’s “natural capital” to decline by 40%.
established a technological infrastructure and a
community of member institutions which can share
their operations and funds. This reduces barriers
to investment, and improves and expands capital
flows. Since its launch in April 2020, this platform
has attracted more than 80 new members from 12
countries.