10 Steps for Business Leaders to Take Action for the Ocean: A Blueprint for Sustainable Growth
On June 18, 2025, workers in Playa del Carmen Beach, located in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, were seen removing sargassum from the shore. This aerial view was captured by Elizabeth Ruiz for AFP/Getty Images. The recent United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, which was attended by leaders from around the world, aimed to address the growing threats to the seas. While the conference made notable accomplishments such as pledges to reduce the flow of toxins into the water and new financing commitments for ocean economies, it was noted that the real challenge lies in translating these ambitious pledges into durable results. The key to achieving this is broad participation and a focus on clear, immediate, and actionable steps. This includes involving more business leaders in the discussion as every company relies on the ocean's biodiversity, food systems, and shipping routes. The private sector must play a role as partners and engines of solutions that scale, and public-private alliances can help turn proven ocean solutions into real-world outcomes. Additionally, ecopreneurs are emerging to tackle ocean problems while generating profit, and at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco, public and private investors pledged $10 billion in new "blue finance" to further scale the rapidly growing ocean economy.
