Back to Blue, from insight to global influence

Jessica Brown, The Action Exchange's co-finounder, moderating a high-level event at the United Nations Environment Assembly: A global ocean free from the harmful impacts of pollution by 2050.

Back to Blue, an initiative of Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation, was established to tackle a problem that is widespread but poorly understood: ocean pollution in all its forms, not just plastics. Pollution enters the ocean through land-based activities, carried by stormwater, rivers, waste systems, and industrial practices. With no single source, there is no simple solution.

The Action Exchange has supported Back to Blue for several years, helping to build the foundations that enable credible action. Our collaborative work began with deep research into marine chemical pollution, focusing on how the business and finance sectors can galvanise change. We then identified the primary barrier to progress: the absence of a coherent, global evidence base on the cumulative impacts of ocean pollution on ecosystems, economies, and human health.

From there, the focus shifted from analysis to mobilisation. Through sustained stakeholder engagement across science, industry, policy, finance, and the UN system, Back to Blue tested ideas, built alignment, and developed a roadmap to close data gaps, strengthen coordination, and create the conditions for investment and implementation.

In December 2025, The Action Exchange's co-founder, Jessica Brown, moderated a high-level event at the United Nations Environment Assembly: A global ocean free from the harmful impacts of pollution by 2050. As a significant marker of progress, this discussion brought together a global group of policymakers and influential stakeholders to advance an ambitious shared agenda.

Watch Jessica Brown moderate the session below, or click here to view the full discussion video.

This work reflects how The Action Exchange supports clients over the long term: combining ideas and insight with engagement and influence. It draws directly on our toolkit, including issue analysis, knowledge mobilisation, stakeholder engagement, convening, messaging and executive support. The result is a credible platform for advocates to effectively drive change in a complex political and institutional environment.