The Official Side Event of UN Ocean Conference 2022 — “Blue Partnership Action Fund” Officially Launched

BEIJING–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The official side event, “Promoting Blue Partnership for a Shared Sustainable Future”, was held in Lisbon, Portugal, during the UN Ocean Conference 2022 on June 29, 2022.

This side event was organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, and co-organized by the World Economic Forum – Friends of Ocean Action, the Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology (SEE) Foundation, the China Oceanic Development Foundation, and the International Coordinators of the World Coastal Forum Establishment Group. The initiation of the “Blue Partnership Action Fund” (BPAF) was also announced at this side event.

The BPAF is the first initiative started by China’s civil society organizations jointly to echo the 16 “Principles of Blue Partnership” announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China. The BPAF was set up to popularize the principle of Building Blue Partnership, achieve the implementation and wide application of nature-based solutions, and advance sustainable use and conservation of marine ecosystems by promoting cooperation among Blue Partners, such as NGOs, enterprises, research institutes, international organizations, government agencies of all countries. In the next three years, which is Phase One of the initiative, BPAF is committed more than 5 million Yuan to invested in the China-ASEAN region to support marine conservation actions. The initial fund of BPAF is contributed by SEE Foundation and Ant Foundation.

“As an NGO from China, we will keep promoting the principle of Building Blue Partnership,” SEE Foundation representative introduced the BPAF to the delegations and audiences at the panel discussion of the side event, “we will focus on four areas: innovating and optimizing ecology conservation approaches, supporting exchanges and capacity building among Blue Partners, demonstrating conservation outcomes and promoting policies, most importantly funding ‘small yet smart’ marine conservation actions.”

In addition to the BPAF, SEE Foundation was also one of first members of the Sustainable Blue Partnership Cooperation Network co-initiated by the World Economic Forum – Friends of Ocean Action and the China Oceanic Development Foundation.

Developing extensive Blue Partnerships and encouraging all stakeholders to take practical actions will provide strong support in addressing challenges in sustainable marine development and creating development opportunities. SEE Foundation would continue its efforts and look forward to more partners joining the Sustainable Blue Partnership Cooperation Network, and applying the principles of Blue Partnership.

Contacts

zhangxuan@see.org.cn