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Oceans

Our Vision: A healthy ocean system is a pillar of global environmental recovery, climate security, and economic prosperity.

The Problem

The Ocean Health Index defines a healthy ocean to be one that sustainably delivers a range of benefits to people now and in the future. However, as it stands, 90% of the planet’s fish stocks are fully exploited or overfished, there is projected to be more plastics in the ocean than fish by 2050, and over half of marine species could be extinct by 2100. [ref] Meanwhile, 3 billion people rely on the ocean as a primary source of food security and roughly half of the Earth’s oxygen is produced by the ocean. [ref] The United Nations (UN) declared 2021–2030 the “Ocean Decade” dedicated to Ocean Science and Sustainable Development, but UN SDG #14 – Life Below Water – is the least funded. [ref]

Builders Vision has identified several key systemic challenges that are hindering shifts toward a healthier and more resilient ocean ecosystem. Issues to solve for include:

  1. Inadequate financial capital
  2. A lack of understanding about oceans
  3. Weak enabling conditions for fostering and strengthening the blue economy

The Opportunity

We believe there is an enormous opportunity for the Oceans ecosystem to become a pillar of global environmental recovery, climate security, and economic prosperity.

Long-Term Outcomes

By 2050, we aim for a world in which:

  1. Ocean resources are sustainably utilized in the blue economy to promote healthy oceans and economic prosperity.
  2. Ocean ecosystems are resilient and balanced, and ocean resources are abundant and healthy.
  3. Oceans meaningfully contribute to climate resilience and global emissions reduction targets.
  4. Policies, policy enforcement, and policymaker knowledge support the blue economy and promote ocean health.

Near-Term Outcomes

By 2030, Builders Vision and its partners will have helped pave the way toward our long-term outcomes, as evidenced by the following shifts in the Oceans ecosystem:

  1. Key stakeholders recognize oceans as a market-driven solution to climate change.
  2. Policy and regulatory frameworks better support the health and resilience of ocean ecosystems.
  3. Key stakeholders like policymakers, scientists, and insurance providers gain increased access to better quality data about the oceans.
  4. More people are equipped with the skills and experience needed for jobs that promote the health and resiliency of oceans.
  5. Blue products and solutions effectively address a range of customer needs, spurring further ocean-focused innovation.
  6. Ocean investments are profitable, catalyizing investment into the Ocean ecosystem from a range of sources.
  7. Oceans are healthier and more resilient.

Our Approaches in Action

Check out our Impact Report

Across Builders Vision, we use three main approaches to generate positive and long-lasting impact in the oceans ecosystem: deploy capital, support our partners “beyond the check”, and advocate for change.

Deploying Capital

As of June 2023, through grants and investments, Builders Vision has committed over $260M to 158 of our Ocean partners. These fund managers, companies, and grantees are working each and every day to make the oceans ecosystem more resilient and balanced.

Supporting Partners

One way that Builders Vision supports its partners is through convenings. Builders Vision held its first OceanSummit in 2022, a collaboration between Builders Initiative and S2G Ventures that brought together over 130 partners together for programming, and networking. Builders Initiative also held an Oceans grantee convening in Maine in 2023.

Advocating for Change

Builders Vision staff are engaging in a variety of activities to draw attention to solutions and efforts that promote the health and sustainability of our oceans, including holding advisory positions in leading industry coalitions such as 1000 Ocean Startups and the UN Global Fund for Coral Reefs.

Interested in learning more about our Oceans work? Check out our Impact Report.

Read About Our Oceans Partners

News from the Oceans Team

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Builders Vision is an impact platform which aims to shift markets and minds for good in pursuit of our vision for a humane and healthy planet. We seek to influence positive, long-lasting solutions in three key focus areas: Oceans, Food & Agriculture and Energy.

Food & Agriculture

A food system that affords healthier food to all and restores the environment rather than harming it.

A clean, sustainable, resilient energy system that is equitable and promotes human and planetary health.

References to “S2G Ventures” (or “S2G”) in any Builders Vision content or website are intended to refer to a former division of Builders Vision, the personnel of which are no longer employed by Builders Vision and who have since formed and operate from S2G Investment Advisers, LLC, an independent entity that is not controlled by Builders Vision (or any affiliate thereof). Any information referencing “S2G” on this website was produced while S2G was a division of Builders Vision and is not intended to serve as an indication of any affiliation with, or endorsement of, S2G Investment Advisers, LLC (or any affiliate thereof).