LocationsASEAN Blue Economy Initiatives
Shaping ASEAN's Sustainable Blue Future
Revisit our workshop at Expo 2025, OsakaProject Area
Stories from the Field
Learn how people build a resilient blue future
2025 - Present
ASEAN Blue Carbon and Finance Profiling
To meet global climate targets, ASEAN countries must reach net-zero emissions by mid-century. Blue carbon ecosystems—such as mangroves, seagrasses, and peatlands—offer powerful nature-based solutions by storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining coastal livelihoods. Despite their critical role, these ecosystems remain underutilized due to limited data, technical capacity, and financing. The “Amplifying Blue Economy Growth through Enhanced Blue Carbon and Financing Profiling” project addresses the critical challenge of mitigating climate change and fostering sustainable development through the conservation and utilization of blue carbon ecosystems in ASEAN countries.
This project supports SDGs number:
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Our Contributors
2024 - 2025
ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
The ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge represents a unique initiative aimed at fostering the development of the blue economy in ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. It seeks to identify, finance, and support innovative solutions geared towards the conservation and sustainable management of marine ecosystems, coastal areas, and freshwater resources. In addition to providing financial support, it facilitates connections between innovators and potential stakeholders, including investors and business entities.
This project supports SDGs number:
Milestones
Accelerating Impact Through Sustainable Action
Commitment to GESI
Under the ASEAN Blue Economy Initiatives, which encompass the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge (ABIC), the ASEAN Blue Carbon Finance (ABCF) project, and future regional collaborations, UNDP and ASEAN remain strongly committed to advancing Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) as a cross-cutting priority. The initiatives recognize that building a sustainable and resilient blue economy requires the meaningful participation and leadership of women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and marginalized communities across all levels of engagement.
By ensuring meaningful participation of women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and marginalized communities, we promote equitable access to innovation, finance, and knowledge within the blue economy. Through initiatives such as supporting 45% women-led innovators under ABIC and ensuring at least 30% women representation in the upcoming ASEAN Network of Blue Economy Experts, we reaffirm that a sustainable blue economy must be inclusive by design—driven by diverse voices and responsive to the needs of all communities across ASEAN and Timor-Leste.