A panel at the Philanthropy Asia Summit highlighted a major funding gap for ocean climate solutions. Only about 0.05% of global philanthropic giving targets ocean climate work, even though the ocean has absorbed most excess heat and carbon emissions. The article argues that offshore wind, shipping decarbonization, blue carbon, and coastal resilience could deliver up to half of needed emissions reductions by mid-century. Asia is central to this opportunity, holding a large share of global offshore wind capacity, shipping emissions, and port infrastructure. Philanthropy can play a catalytic role by funding policy design, marine spatial planning, and community engagement rather than directly financing large infrastructure projects. The piece makes a practical case for rebalancing climate funding toward the ocean.
