The session positioned blue natural capital as a driver of development, demonstrating how healthy marine and coastal ecosystems supported biodiversity conservation, economic growth, job creation, food security, and climate resilience. Drawing on country and regional examples, including the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program and experiences from Indonesia and other blue-economy contexts, the discussion examined how ecosystem protection and restoration, sustainable blue-economy activities, and nature-based solutions benefited people and nature. It also identified enabling conditions for public and private investment, including sound policies, integrated planning, risk reduction, innovative financing, and stronger value chains, while highlighting country-led progress toward Global Biodiversity Framework Targets 3, 9, and 11.