RE:TV Vibrant Blue Economies Press Release

25 October 2024

RE:TV Launches Vibrant Blue Economies Film Unpacking New Opportunities To Realise the Potential of Small Island Nations

By investing in innovative nature solutions, governments and businesses have the opportunity to develop new revenue streams and support job creation adding climate resilience in SIDS

London, 25th October 2024 – RE:TV has today released its new film, Vibrant Blue Economies to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa (October 21 -26) and COP16 in Cali, Colombia (October 21-November 1). Despite their minimal contribution to global emissions, small island developing states (SIDS), face severe climate change impacts, including extreme weather and rising sea levels, which threaten their survival and impact tourism, causing a global climate knock-on effect. Inhabited by approximately 65 million people living on more than one thousand islands, SIDS create less than one percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

Vibrant Blue Economies flips the script on these small island nations, reminding us that they are responsible for vast ocean territories. “We think of these islands as small, but the amount of ocean they control is about 28 times larger than their land size,” says Dr Deborah Brosnan, Marine Scientist and Climate Risk Expert, and Vibrant Blue Economies film contributor. “They're not small island developing states; they're large ocean nations.”

The film goes on to unpack how SIDS can be transformed into “vibrant blue economies” through scalable business opportunities for investors, from highly innovative nature-based solutions to new types of insurance that provide greater security. Private and government backed business investment will help small islands to thrive in the face of climate impact, creating new jobs, increasing biodiversity and introducing new business revenue streams.

The film also shows the resilience of SIDS communities and explores practical and innovative climate solutions such as mangrove and coral restoration, marine protected areas, and the integration of technology and nature-based approaches – particularly at the intersection of the hospitality industry, which is a key economic driver for island nations. It examines how targeted financial mechanisms and investment strategies can support these initiatives and enhance the resilience of SIDS.

“Investing in SIDS is not just about philanthropy; it's a smart business move,” says Dan Watt-Smith, RE:TV Channel Editor. “Small island nations can become vibrant blue economies based on tourism and fishing, underpinned by new financial and insurance models. Investing in nature-based solutions means a greater chance of insurance coverage and repayment. It also saves money in the long run; finance can come through biodiversity credits, parametric insurance and tourism.”

Vibrant Blue Economies features contributions from Dr Deborah Brosnan, Marine Scientist and Climate Risk expert; Paul Andrew Gomez, UK High Commissioner for the Bahamas; and Rebekah Clement, Lloyds Corporate Affairs Director. It also includes a case study filmed in the Maldives, featuring the impact of coral restoration and waste management, with luxury resort company Soneva, its CEO, Sonu Shivdasani, and the project’s Lead Scientist, Johanna Leonnhart.

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Press Assets:

Downloadable link to the trailer
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/8pf0ah51nb4rhquhtlfar/AL9X1XV6L18r6p4mm6SMAeI?rlkey=bpk4fi66al4hqzqwcgx6hqs1l&st=kw9jh5hj&dl=0

Link to the film on the RE:TV website
https://www.re-tv.org/articles/vibrant-blue-economies

Link to the Regenerating Oceans Hub on the RE:TV website
https://www.re-tv.org/features/oceans

Embed link for Vimeo
<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1022885221?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="Realising The Vast Potential Of Nature-Based Solutions"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

Link to the film on YouTube
https://youtu.be/G_bJCeE-kvs?si=87fBG4JiAbj3etKl

Link to stills:

Main Film thumbnail
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/hbi0mleis08imdyj2n1e9/AHlJ9uB5l35QvMrsshaYDIU?rlkey=k4wc3om3fcvba0l68rb00gyd3&st=vngyqi77&dl=0

Rebekah Clement
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/h3t3x91qcasf3njt3fnn7/AAiuSiB0yicFUZwGjhjHkWw?rlkey=9j24wz3tu3vkqbdbw0mfylelo&st=1al5cfu2&dl=0

Deborah Brosnan
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/v9cuhplzvhzo0khnhcel9/AMr7-7qnmZwvnmcesz2_dEE?rlkey=ee2qrfku1b8w0uar9d76wq4d3&st=2tuiih5s&dl=0

Paul Gomez
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/4vbuvm302g1zy97qq5bqr/ABEn2jeGqDibJiqoocmcZ_Y?rlkey=5m5jk7u4oy2p6neehk0biytf2&st=iqjj9y5d&dl=0

Link to RE:TV general assets:

RE:TV logo - Navy
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hkpclfh7ege3xu42dkf4n/RETV_Logo_Navy.png?rlkey=jj8ao29uk3c6qnz9es43auptg&st=5glud361&dl=0

RE:TV logo - White
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s6fcwjnidfo0f55naftbz/RETV_Logo_White_7.png?rlkey=f7fbqo5l6vbzx1nw4yjc6obnt&st=98nz1flz&dl=0

About RE:TV
RE:TV is a cross-platform channel showcasing innovative climate solutions from around the world. Launched in 2020 as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, it’s inspired by the long-standing commitment to the environment of its founder, His Majesty King Charles III.

Over the last four years, the channel has produced more than 100 short documentaries featuring visionary entrepreneurs, technologists, scientists, academics and campaigners. Produced remotely with local crews, the films have covered a vast range of climate solutions; from mangrove restoration in Costa Rica, to sustainable aviation fuel in Illinois, as well as producing quick turnaround social content at COPs 26-28 and other climate events.

Alongside weekly films on the RE:TV website and YouTube channel, daily content is published on RE:TV’s social channels, which have generated more than 20 million views since launch. By providing a platform for the growing community of change-makers around the world, RE:TV is committed to encouraging businesses to incorporate climate solutions in their supply chains at the same time as helping to address the increasing anxiety that we all feel about climate change.

www.re-tv.org/
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https://x.com/retv_org

Media Contact:
Kate Ford
Jump PR
kate@jumppr.tv
+44(0) 7740 948065