TED Talks Daily An ingenious proposal for scaling up marine protection | Mark Tercek
Jun 8, 2019
Island and coastal nations face challenges in protecting their waters due to debt constraints. Mark Tercek proposes an innovative solution: buy a nation’s debt at a discount, lower payments in exchange for marine protection commitments. This concept, known as 'Blue Bonds for Conservation,' aims to unlock billions for ocean health. The podcast explores the successful implementation of this model in the Seychelles and its potential for global adoption, showcasing a strategic blend of financial ingenuity and environmental sustainability.
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Debt-for-Nature Swap
- Island nations often can't prioritize marine conservation due to high debt levels.
- The Nature Conservancy's Blue Bonds program leverages this debt to fund conservation efforts.
Invest in Blue Bonds
- Invest in Blue Bonds for Conservation to unlock greater funding for ocean protection.
- A $40 million investment can potentially generate $1.6 billion for conservation efforts, through debt restructuring and dedicated trust funds.
Seychelles Success Story
- In 2016, The Nature Conservancy helped restructure $22 million of Seychelles' debt.
- In return, Seychelles agreed to protect 30% of its marine areas, exceeding this goal by reaching 40% (an area about the size of Germany).