UN and WWF Publish Revised Ocean Investment Protocol, Focusing on Integrating Ocean Risks into Financial Stability Assessments by Central Banks and Regulators
The United Nations, in partnership with the WWF's Greening Financial Regulation Initiative, has published a revised Ocean Investment Protocol, adding action recommendations for central banks, regulators and supervisory authorities, and listing investable areas such as sustainable seafood, shipping, ports and offshore renewable energy.
The United Nations, in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)'s Greening Financial Regulation Initiative, released the revised Ocean Investment Protocol in September 2026. First published in 2025, the protocol aims to provide investors and financial institutions with a roadmap to support the ocean economy while advancing sustainability and ocean health. It is designed to help investors align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to provide a framework for increasing investment in the blue economy.
The UN said these protocols need to evolve as priorities change. "The revised protocol reflects a growing recognition that declining ocean health is not only an environmental challenge but also a material economic and financial risk. Ocean-related dependencies and risks can affect financial stability, sovereign credit, food and energy security, trade, and the resilience of economies and communities," the UN said in a press release.
The UN said the revision has several priorities, including stronger action by central banks, regulators and supervisory authorities. The new protocol contains recommendations guiding public financial authorities on how to "integrate ocean-related risks and opportunities into financial stability assessments, regulatory approaches, sustainable finance frameworks and risk management."
Another priority is strengthening the integration of ocean considerations into financial decision-making, identifying risks related to ocean degradation and the financial system's existing dependencies on ocean ecosystems. Expanding investment in the sustainable ocean economy is also listed as a priority.
"The protocol aims to strengthen the pipeline of investable opportunities, spanning sustainable seafood, shipping, ports, offshore renewable energy, coastal infrastructure, tourism, conservation and nature-based solutions," the UN said.
The revised protocol also highlights the need for better access to ocean data and for coordinated regulation to enable private capital to invest in the ocean economy.
"By providing a common basis for stakeholders across the financial system, the revised Ocean Investment Protocol aims to help financial actors manage ocean-related risks, identify emerging investment opportunities and direct capital toward activities that support a healthy and resilient ocean. In doing so, it supports progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and global biodiversity commitments," the UN said.