UBS and Earth Security collaborate on the bank’s guide on oceans

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May 20, 2020

UBS has launched a bank-wide initiative for the protection of the world’s oceans, featuring Earth Security's strategic recommendations for the impact investors and philanthropists that the bank advises.

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The UBS report: “Sea beyond the Blue: A guide on the oceans for philanthropists and changemakers” brings together UBS’ 20 years of experience in advising clients on strategic philanthropy and the expertise of over 60 ocean experts, philanthropists, and changemakers defining priorities and practical guidance for ocean conservation.

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“Now is the time to act. Protecting the world’s oceans requires a deep understanding of the issues affecting them. From there, we must commit to solving those issues – urgently.” - Phyllis Costanza, Head of UBS in Society and CEO UBS Optimus Foundation and Maria Harvey, Head UBS GWM Client Services.

Ripple effects across supply chains

Illuminates how challenges like water scarcity, climate change, and land degradation generate cascading impacts across global supply chains and investment portfolios.

Integrated systems analysis

Connects environmental constraints, demographic trends, and governance dynamics to assess how they interact to influence national and sectoral investment stability—enabling investors to anticipate emerging risks and strategic responses.

Country dashboards & sector insights

Delivers tailored intelligence for high-growth sectors across critical production and consumer markets—pinpointing pressure points that signal both risk exposure and investment opportunity.

Visual storytelling through data

Employs cutting-edge radial graphics inspired by the planetary boundaries framework. Multi-axis indicators make complex systems data intuitive and actionable for decision-makers driving strategic capital allocation.

Explore the reports

The Earth Security Index Reports provided in-depth analysis of critical themes across selected industries and market geographies, enabling investors to anticipate and respond to emerging global dynamics. Download and explore the full Earth Security Index reports:

The Earth Security Report 2017

The Earth Security Index 2016

The Earth Security Index 2015

The Earth Security Index 2014

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The Blue Resilience Facility: Investing in Nature-based Coastal Resilience

Mobilising private, public and philanthropic capital into a curated pipeline of investable nature-based coastal resilience projects.

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We are engaging and partnering with companies, investors and funders to mobilise investment to projects that deliver nature-based coastal resilience.

From blue carbon investments and natural coastal infrastructure to corporate-philanthropy partnerships that build long-term license to operate, the Facility demonstrates a scalable model for deploying capital for systemic resilience – combining private, public and philanthropic capital – to restore nature, protect coastlines and improve local livelihoods.
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Join us to co-develop the next generation of investable coastal resilience projects.

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The Facility at a Glance

50 Projects Worldwide

A global pipeline of nature-based coastal resilience projects, each designed with measurable environmental, social, and economic outcomes.

Curated Partnerships

Strategic funding partnerships with investors, companies, and foundations to finance projects that deliver tangible Resilience ROI.

$20 Million by 2027

Mobilising capital to scale nature-based solutions that protect coastlines and livelihoods.

Facility Partners

Coastal ecosystems provide over $1 trillion in flood protection benefits yet remain critically underfunded. Investing in nature is investing in resilience.

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Other Programs

Catalytic philanthropy models in Indonesia

We launched the M40 Mangrove Program in partnership with UBS Optimus Foundation in 2022. We are building a global pipeline of blue carbon and mangrove-positive investment opportunities, developing investment pilots to bridge the gap between commercial capital and catalytic philanthropy, and creating a blueprint for mangrove investment at scale.

• A portfolio of investment pilots.
• The 'premium' blue carbon framework.
• A global pipeline of investable projects.
• New private sector leadership models.

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Case Study

Investing in mangroves for coastal resilience in North Jakarta

Among the pilot projects of our M40 programme, we're working in one of the remaining mangroves sites in North Jakarta, Taman Wisata Alam Angke Kapuk (TWA AK), to bring funders and investors..

Nature-based Coastal Insurance in the Philippines

From 2020-2023, we brought together a collective of leading insurance companies in the Philippines, in partnership with the Philippines Insurance and Reinsurance Association (PIRA) and the insurance regulator, to explore, support and catalyse the development of insurance products that price the protection value of coastal ecosystems, in particular mangroves, for the industry’s future growth. This mobilized the sector to initiate the development of three products that re-position the country’s coastal natural wealth as part of the industry’s tools to increase its resilience to coastal natural disasters.

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Case Study

Pioneering Nature-based Insurance Products in the Philippines

In 2017, we partnered with the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA), to explore how NbS could be incorporated into the industry’s climate resilience strategy. We are delighted to share that PIRA is now moving....

A Blueprint for a ‘Mangrove Bonds’ in Australia

From 2021-2022, we worked in partnership with HSBC Australia and a collective of local financial institutions and blue economy experts, to explore the opportunities and viable design options for creating a Mangrove Bond in Queensland, Australia. As part of the program we created a local implementation partnership and catalysed collaboration between coastal

infrastructure companies and project developers to take the blueprint into action in selected locations.