An aerial view of the Monterey Bay including boat harbor, city and hills, with view to the Pacific Ocean beyond

Our mission at the Center for the Blue Economy is to promote ocean-based sustainability solutions through leadership in economic research, education, and policy analysis.
 

What is the “Blue Economy”?

The “Blue Economy” comprises the economic activities that create sustainable wealth from the world’s oceans and coasts. The center examines ways that ocean and coastal resources can support economic development and enhance healthy, resilient oceans and well-managed coastlines.

Our Research

Our research focuses on two areas—helping organizations understand how to measure the size and changing nature of economic relationships with the oceans and coasts in order to guide choices and monitor progress, and the economics of climate change adaptation in coastal regions. 

Student Opportunities

The Center for the Blue Economy (CBE) supports students through funded fellowship opportunities, made possible by generous donors.  Students in the International Environmental Policy master’s program who declare the Ocean and Coastal Resource Management specialization will have the opportunity to get real-world experience with a marine-focused organization of their choice.  Being able to approach an organization with funding in hand opens many doors. Here is Molly Ryan’s fellowship story: 

a bright, smiling Molly Ryan leaning against a blue wall

Student Name:  Molly Ryan

Fellowship with the Permanent Mission of Vanuatu to the United Nations
June 13-September 5, 2022
New York, New York, USA

The Republic of Vanuatu announced its intentions to seek an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on the issue of climate change and human rights, specifically to seek clarification of the legal duties of large emitters of greenhouse gases with respect to present and future generations. The campaign seeks to put this as a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly where all countries will be asked to vote on the Vanuatu proposal. Molly assisted the Vanuatu legal and communications team on this campaign, helped to plan a conference on the legal implications of the Advisory Opinion, and she was flown out to New York to meet the team. “The date that the UN General Assembly will be voting got pushed to this March 2023, so we are all waiting in anxious anticipation to see if our efforts pay off! It was an incredible experience and an inspiring group of people to work with,” Molly reflected.  

What is Molly up to now?  

“This spring I began working with ESP Advisors, an all-female ocean policy consulting group based in Washington, D.C. for my IPSS (International Professional Service Semester). So far it has also been a wonderful experience, though very different from my work with Vanuatu!”

Alumni Success

IEP OCRM Alumni Success

This video highlights a few graduates of the International Environmental Policy (IEP) master’s program who have the Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) specialization—a specialization that the Center for the Blue Economy helped to establish more than 10 years ago. The CBE and our generous donors continue to support IEP OCRM students, providing funded fellowships that offer real-world experience and key connections to launch successful careers.  IEP OCRM alumni have done quite well in the job market, with approximately 94% currently employed in the ocean and coastal resource management field. Learn more on our Networking and Alumni Success page. 

Center for the Blue Economy News


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