Quick Dips
Curated topical articles on the Blue Economy

Here's how eating sea urchins could help save the oceans' dying kelp forests

Charlotte Edmond, World Economic Forum Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture

Spiky, voracious and multiplying at an alarming rate, sea urchins are destroying marine ecosystems around the world. The solution? Eat them, according to one company.

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Report Details Climate Impact on Coral Reefs, Warns of 'Human Tragedy'

Jessica Corbett, EcoWatch.

In a new report about how the world's coral reefs face "the combined threats of climate change, pollution, and overfishing"  a London-based nonprofit calls for greater global efforts to end the climate crisis and ensure the survival of these vital underwater ecosystems.

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Will 2020 be the year of blue finance?

James Richen, Responsible Investor Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution

James Richens, editor of The Economist Group’s World Ocean Initiative, takes stock of Responsible Investor’s survey of investment risks and opportunities in the blue economy.

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How shipping can learn from offshore wind power to make its green transition competitive

Anders Holst Nymark Energy Solutions Shipping & Ports

Collaboration between governments and industry is crucial to make new green technologies competitive alternatives to fossil fuels.

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Blue Acceleration: our dash for ocean resources mirrors what we’ve already done to the land

Robert Blasiak, The Conversation

Humans are leaving a heavy footprint on the Earth, but when did we become the main driver of change in the planet’s ecosystems?

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How decarbonizing shipping could unlock a global energy transition

Johannah Christensen Energy Solutions Shipping & Ports

Emissions from shipping could grow by 250% by 2050 if no action is taken. Halving shipping’s emissions by 2050 could require $1.2 trillion in investment. But the scale of this challenge could be big enough to spur decarbonization across other sectors, too.

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Will blue finance fulfil its potential?

World Ocean Initiative, The Economist Group

New research reveals significant interest among investors in financing the transition to a sustainable ocean economy. But blue finance is still a niche proposition with many barriers to overcome.

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The A List 2019 - from CDP

CDP

CDP’s annual A List names the world's most pioneering companies leading on environmental transparency and performance. This year, we recognize more than 170 corporates as the leaders acting to address climate risks and build our future zero-carbon economy - one that works for both people and planet.

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New analysis puts a price tag on maritime shipping’s decarbonization

Global Maritime Forum Plastics & Pollution

At least $1 trillion of capital investment in land-based and ship-related infrastructure required to halve international shipping’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

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Making the Case for Mobile Marine Protected Areas

Ker Than. Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture

In 2000, Stanford marine ecologist Larry Crowder read an intriguing scientific paper that introduced the concept of mobile marine protected areas, or mMPAs – ocean sanctuaries whose boundaries can shift in space and time to protect animals that follow changing ocean features like the Gulf Stream. 

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2020 Could Be the Year Carbon Removal Takes Off

World Resources Institute

Global greenhouse gas emissions are on track to rise once again to their highest level in history. Our time is shrinking to reduce climate-warming emissions enough to limit global temperature rise to 1.5-2 degrees Celsius (2.7-3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

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New fish farm near Miami aims to grow major portion of U.S. salmon supply

Paul Brinkmann, U.S. News Fisheries & Aquaculture

A new land-based salmon farm, described by industry groups as among the world's largest, is raising millions of the healthy popular fish in giant warehouses about 30 miles southwest of Miami.

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Positive ocean developments through 2019

Emma Critchley and Douglas McCauley

In 2019, we saw a mixed bag of news stories from oceans, high seas and marine conservation. A fair bit of progress was made toward an international treaty to protect biodiversity on the high seas. 

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A Surge of New Plastic Is About to Hit the Planet

Beth Gardiner, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Plastics & Pollution

A world awash in plastic will soon see even more, as a host of new petrochemical plants — their ethane feedstock supplied by the fracking boom — come online. Major oil companies, facing the prospect of reduced demand for their fuels, are ramping up their plastics output.

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Can algae save the planet by changing the way we eat?

Alexandra Ossola, Quartz Fisheries & Aquaculture

If you’ve only heard about the negative aspects of algae, like how its blooms clog waterways and kill off species, you’re missing half the story. Now scientists and engineers are discovering new ways to harness algae’s unique qualities.

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How 2020 can be the year to build a truly “blue” economy

Martin Koehring, The Economist Group- World Ocean Initiative Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports

Safeguarding and harnessing the ocean’s ability to provide for people and the planet is crucial for sustainable development, says Martin Koehring, head of the World Ocean Initiative.

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Is deep-sea mining part of the blue economy?

World Ocean Initiative, The Economist Group

Growth in low-carbon technologies such as electric vehicles and wind turbines is driving demand for metals used in batteries and wiring. The World Ocean Initiative finds out whether it could be more sustainable to get these resources from the seabed rather than terrestrial mines.

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Floating plastics pervade Pacific fish populations, larval fish are eating our trash

Jennifer Lynch, SEVENSEAS Media Plastics & Pollution

A new study on the Pacific Ocean’s floating trash indicates not only a significant accumulation of microplastics in the Hawaiian Islands, but that larval fish are eating the debris.

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Piva raises $250 million to make breakthrough energy investments

CNBC Energy Solutions

Piva, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm, announced on Wednesday that it raised $250 million for its first fund, which will focus on the next era of energy, industry and materials.

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3 Tools to Help You Channel Your Inner Climate Scientist

Olivia Rosane Energy Solutions

We can save hundreds of millions of people from poverty by 2050 by limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Read more → (11 minute read)