why the monaco blue initiative?
The Monaco Blue Initiative is a unique platform for debate that brings together major players in Ocean conservation and governance to reflect on the key challenges facing our future Ocean, in a concrete and forward-looking way.
Representatives of Governments, international organizations, civil society, NGOs, the private sector, the scientific community and the media meet every year to explore and promote synergies between the protection of the marine environment and the development of a truly sustainable blue economy.
The results and recommendations of the MBI are brought to high-level international discussions and negotiations on ocean protection and governance, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the negotiations on Marine Biodiversity in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction and the International Marine Protected Areas Congress.
For more than 15 years, the Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI), coorganised by the Oceanographic Institute and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, has been a unique forum for strategic discussions on the governance and protection of the Ocean. This year’s MBI will serve as a work session designed to fuel reflection, determine priorities, and inform the dialogue in the lead-up to the 2026 Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF).
The Monaco Blue Initiative is a high-level political event that will this year bring together around 100 participants to encourage strategic exchanges between decisionmakers, scientists and key figures in marine governance during a day alternating between plenary sessions and networking opportunities.
Advisory Committee
Shaping the conversation at the intersection of ocean science, policy and finance
MBI 2026 brings together an Advisory Committee of senior international experts operating across the full science-to-policy-to-finance continuum to help define the event’s strategic direction and editorial ambition. Spanning both the Monaco Blue Initiative and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, the Committee brings continuity and coherence to Monaco’s foremost ocean governance platform.
Members contribute their expertise to define the questions that matter most: identifying priority themes, shaping the programme’s ambitions, and ensuring that outcomes translate into credible commitments and concrete action. Their engagement is designed to buil a coherent, long-term platform of reference on ocean governance and finance.
Karen SACK
ORRAA
Pascal LAMY
Fondation Jacques Delors Friends of Europe
Vincent PIERIBONE
Ocean X
