27-05-2025
Hong Kong at Maritime Crossroads: New Studies Reveal Unprecedented Opportunity for Kickstarting the Blue Economy
Global shipping reforms are creating openings for blue finance leadership
are creating openings for blue finance leadership Port redevelopments can integrate ecological and economic value
can integrate ecological and economic value Marine ecosystems, long undervalued, are essential to regional prosperity and resilience
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire – 27 May 2025 -In a rare convergence of economic and environmental expertise, three landmark studies released today by ADM Capital Foundation, HKUST and WWF-Hong Kong,presenting a transformative vision—Hong Kong can reinvent itself as Asia's premier blue economy reports— Port 1.0 to Port 2.0 (HKUST), Blue Finance for a Blue Economy (ADMCF), and Valuing the Invaluable Blue (WWF-Hong Kong)—all agree that the city has a unique opportunity in this moment, wherein:Global shipping reforms – IMOs net zero emission and carbon pricing mandate will force fleet upgrades, fuel transitions and new financial risks. In parallel, the UN has announced an ambitious biodiversity framework to be achieved by 2030. Hong Kong, itself, is striving to re-assert itself as a maritime powerhouse. This alignment, the authors propose, creates an unprecedented opportunity to transform the city into Asia's sustainable blue economy leader. At the heart of this transformation lies 'Port 2.0'– a visionary reimagining of Hong Kong's waters as a multifunctional interface that connects sea, land, city, technology and people, and serve as platforms for innovation, environmental stewardship and civic life." said Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment at HKUST and author of the paper "From Port 1.0 to Port 2.0: Hong Kong's Next Leap to Evolving a Blue Economy Vision".Hong Kong's status as the world's third-largest capital hub gives it unmatched potential to pioneer blue finance. As ADMCF'sreport highlights, instruments such as blue bonds can mobilise capital to facilitate port decarbonisation, sustainable aquaculture and marine eco-tourism—transforming the city into Asia's premier blue economy hub, aligning marine protection with economic prosperity. In 2023 there was a surge in blue bonds followed by continued growth in 2024, and Asia was the largest issuing region—led by China." said Kate Martin, the report's lead author and sustainable finance consultant with untapped potential aligns with the groundbreaking research in. The WWF-commissioned study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences has, for the first time, quantified the staggering monetary value of the Greater Bay Area's coastal ecosystems—revealing a Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) worth RMB 4.9 trillion, equivalent to over 35% of the GBA's GDP, with 73% contributed by marine ecosystems.," said Lydia Pang, Head of Oceans Conservation at WWF-Hong Kong. "" she said. "The authors' combined focus on a blue economy vision integrates port development with marine conservation, biodiversity, climate resilience, recreation and the responsible use of ocean resources. It builds on China's decades of marine policy leadership, where comprehensive frameworks - from ocean GEP systems to blue finance instruments - have laid the foundation for sustainable maritime development."The window to developing a sustainable blue economy and to establish ourselves as the global leader in sustainable maritime commerce is open now, but won't remain so indefinitely." Said Sophie le Clue, CEO at ADMCF. "The question isn't whether we can seize this opportunity, but whether we will."Hashtag: #ADMCapitalFoundation
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