First day of the GO Program at UNOC3

Financing innovation for the climate-ocean-biodiversity nexus in small islands: the example of Overseas Countries and Territories
UNOC3 | June 6, 2025 | Nice, France

The OCTs and British Overseas Territories, supported by the Green Overseas Program, represent a group of 25 island territories with a combined exclusive economic zone of over 17 million km². Together, they cover more than 18% of the world's marine protected areas, and are major natural carbon sinks.
These territories, which often depend on the growth of the blue economy (fishing, tourism, marine energies, etc.), are today faced with the increasing degradation of their coastal ecosystems due to climate change and anthropogenic pressures. A sustainable blue transition, supported by appropriate financing mechanisms, is now essential.

This high-level exchange aims to:

• Present the main findings of an analysis conducted by the Green Overseas Program on coastal vulnerabilities and associated financing needs, which you can consult in full via this link;
• Highlight the OCTs' unique contribution to global marine biodiversity;
• Explore innovative financing mechanisms such as blue bonds, blue carbon financing, public-private partnerships and blockchain technology;
• Identify new opportunities for expanded access to climate finance (VCFs, climate treaties, MVI...) ahead of COP30;
• Mobilize financial and technical players to strengthen the economic and ecological resilience of island territories.

Organized as an interactive roundtable (in English, 45 minutes), the event brings together

• Mr. Ahab Downer - Director of the Green Overseas program (Expertise France)
• Mrs. Mareva Lechat - Representative of French Polynesia
• Mrs. Stacy Jupiter - Pacific Regional Director, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
• Mr. Emmanuel Baudran - Deputy Executive Director for Sustainable Development Solutions, French Development Agency (AFD)

Exchanges will focus on priorities for action, difficulties in accessing international financing and concrete avenues for accelerating investment in the island blue economy.