nel blu™ — Italian for “into the blue”
celebrates the people, ideas, and breakthroughs
shaping the future of our ocean.
curating stories that inspire
action & deepen our connection to the sea.
Clown Fish | 📷 Credit: Bin White & UnSplash
WELCOME TO OUR SPECIAL ISSUE: WORLD OCEANS WEEK
Editors Note
What comes to mind when you think about the ocean?
Maybe it’s a favorite beach. A summer vacation. A surf trip. A seafood dinner. Maybe for some of us, the ocean feels distant.
In reality, it shapes nearly every aspect of modern life.
Every June, scientists, conservationists, businesses, policymakers, and ocean advocates around the world come together to celebrate World Oceans Week and World Oceans Day (June 8).
At its core, this week is a reminder of something easy to overlook:
> that the ocean quietly powers everyday life.
It helps regulate our climate, produces much of the oxygen we breathe, and moves roughly 90% of global trade. It supports billions of livelihoods and sits at the center of industries ranging from shipping and energy to food systems, technology, and biotechnology.
What’s perhaps most remarkable, is how much we still don’t know.
The ocean covers more than 70% of our planet, yet much of it remains unexplored. New species are discovered every year. New technologies are revealing parts of the ocean we’ve never been able to study before. And new conversations are emerging around how the ocean shapes our economy, our climate, and our future.
That’s what this special issue is about.
Whether you’re a scientist, founder, investor, student, or simply ocean-curious, consider this your invitation into the conversation.
Because understanding the ocean isn’t just for people who work on the water.
It’s about recognizing how connected we all are to it.
Three Ocean Facts That Will Blow Your Mind
1. The Ocean Covers Most of Our Planet
When astronauts look back at Earth from space, they don’t see a green planet. They see a blue one. The ocean covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface, making it the largest living system on the planet.
📸 Credit: NASA | Earth From the Perspective of Artemis II
2. The Ocean Helps Regulate Earth’s Climate
The ocean absorbs enormous amounts of heat and carbon from the atmosphere, helping keep temperatures on Earth stable enough for life to thrive. Think of it as the planet’s natural cooling system.
This swirling blue-green bloom is made up of billions of tiny marine organisms. Together, they help absorb carbon, produce oxygen, and play a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate. 📸 Credit: ESA
3. Most Life on Earth Lives in the Ocean
The ocean is home to an incredible diversity of life. From microscopic plankton to the largest animal that has ever lived, the blue whale. Scientists continue to discover new marine species every year. It’s one of the richest ecosystems on the planet, and we’re still uncovering its secrets.
Blue Whale’s can grow up to 100 feet in length
Carbon Credits, Explained
Why Microsoft Is Betting Billions
Last month, Microsoft announced another major carbon credit purchase as part of its goal to become carbon negative by 2030.
If you’ve ever wondered what a carbon credit actually is, you’re not alone.
At its core, a carbon credit is a way to account for carbon emissions or CO₂. If a company produces CO₂ emissions through activities like manufacturing, transportation, or operating data centers, it can invest in projects that reduce or remove an equivalent amount of carbon elsewhere.
What’s interesting for the blue economy is where investors are increasingly looking for those carbon reductions: the ocean.
Mangroves in Raja Ampat | 📸 Credit: Ocean Image Bank & Jenny Stock
Coastal ecosystems like mangroves, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes are some of the most effective natural carbon sinks on Earth. Scientists call this blue carbon — carbon captured and stored by marine and coastal ecosystems.
But these habitats do more than absorb carbon. They also help protect coastlines from storms, support fisheries, improve water quality, and provide critical habitat for marine life.
That’s why companies including Microsoft, Google, Stripe, Shopify, and Amazon are helping fuel a growing market around carbon removal and ecosystem restoration.
Carbon credits remain controversial. Some critics question how effective they are, while others argue companies should focus on reducing emissions at the source. Still, interest in nature-based climate solutions continues to grow.
For most of modern history, the ocean generated economic value through what we could catch, ship, drill, or harvest. Carbon markets are testing a different idea:
> What if healthy ecosystems had economic value simply because they exist and perform critical functions?
Whether carbon credits become the long-term solution remains an open question. But one thing is becoming increasingly clear: healthy ecosystems are beginning to be recognized as economic assets.
And that could fundamentally change how conservation is funded in the decades ahead.
Read the full story here →
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Sources: Microsoft Sustainability ESG Dive ; NOAA Blue Carbon
VISUAL
Photo of the Week
📷 Credit: The Ocean Image Bank & Toby Matthews
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EVENTS
Save the Date
Ocean events on our radar
🌊 World Ocean Day | June 8, 2026
The most important day on the ocean calendar! Celebrated globally with beach cleanups, events, and advocacy campaigns across every coastline. We'll be publishing a special edition issue. Mark it now. worldoceanday.org
If someone in your life needs more ocean optimism — pass this newsletter along.