We are witnessing a boom in new forms of financing that generate both profit for investors and a “social return” for communities. But what is “impact investing”, and why do we need more of it to protect our oceans and support small islands? 

Matt and Emily – with RESI colleague, Gail Hurley – reflect on the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, June 2025. We ask whether socially responsible investment can unlock new money for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and share powerful stories of islands and investors revolutionizing ocean protection through innovative financing. 

In Island Voices, Karuna Rana from Mauritius explains why local solutions are key to overcoming investment “ticket size.” In the Explainer, Gail unpacks what impact investing is and why it matters. In the Big Picture, Yabanex Batista (Global Fund for Coral Reefs), Melissa Walsh (Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance), and Hervé Lallement-Moe (Government of French Polynesia) discuss impact investing and the implications of UNOC3. Finally, in No Stupid Questions, Matt, Emily, and Gail ask how impact investing can support SIDS’ policy priorities. 

 Featuring: 

• Emily Wilkinson | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global
• Matthew Bishop | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield 
• Gail Hurley | RESI Director and Development Finance Expert 
• Karuna Rana | Director, Big Ocean States Initiative (BOSI) 
• Yabanex Batista | Deputy Director, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, United Nations Capital Development Fund
• Melissa Walsh Director | Director, Blue Finance & Scaling, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) 
• Hervé Lallemant-Moe | Digital Economy Directorate, Government of French Polynesia 

Resources: 

• Programme page (RESI)
• UNOC Declaration | Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action 
• RESI work on ocean equity | Turning the tide: enhancing ocean equity for SIDS 
• Karuna’s profile |Karuna Rana on LinkedIn 
• BOSI website | Big Ocean States Initiative 
• Yabanex’s profile | Yabanex Batista on LinkedIn 
• Melissa’s profile | Dr Melissa Walsh at OORRAA 
• Hervé’s profile | Hervé Lallement-Moe on LinkedIn 

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