In collaboration with partners from NetworkNature, GoNaturePositive and C-FAARER, and as part of the Invest4Nature project, NIVA organized the off-site satellite event on Financing Nature-based Solutions (NBS) for a Sustainable Blue Economy. This hybrid event, held on 9 April, served as a platform to discuss ongoing projects such as Invest4Nature, C-FAARER, and GoNaturePositive. It was a successful and engaging session, drawing nearly 60 attendees, with more than half participating in person.
Moderation by Diya Chakravorty (NIVA) and presentation by Wenting Chen (NIVA). Credit: Ingrid Kaltenegger.
The event brought together an interdisciplinary panel of speakers, including NIVA researchers Wenting Chen who presented on financing instruments for coastal ecosystem restoration. Diya Chakravorty on behalf of HorizonNUA presented the outcomes of the nature-based enterprises (NBE) survey. Esteemed speakers from various organizations, such as Cascais Municipality, UNEP-WCMC, GRID-Arendal, and the Government of Catalonia, contributed their insights. The event was moderated by Diya Chakravorty alongside Andreas Tuerk and Ingrid Kaltenegger from Joanneum Research.
Key topics centered on challenges of securing sustainable funding and the importance of integrating socioeconomic factors and environmental benefits into business models. The discussions also emphasized the potential of blue carbon markets as effective mechanisms to fund NBS. There was a growing consensus on the need for collaboration between public and private sectors to scale up NBS, including the development of effective blended financing approaches. The recommendations called for clearer frameworks and policies to facilitate investment, credible market structures for carbon credits, and the creationof financial instruments that can provide both return on investment and environmental benefits.
Panel discussion moderated by Ingrid Kaltenegger and Andreas Tuerk (Joanneum Research). Panellists (from left to right): Luciana Puebla (Sustainable Fitch), Steffen Knodt (Deepblue Earth DbE), Jordi Solina Angelet (Government of Catalonia) and Elisabete da Costa (BLUEBIO ALLIANCE, C-FAARER). Credit: Diya Chakravorty.
The Barcelona event served as a critical platform for exchanging ideas and best practices and highlighted the pivotal role of innovative financial models in transitioning towards a sustainable blue economy.
Author: Wenting Chen and Diya Chakravorty (NIVA)