Ant International Unveils its Global Sustainability Initiative ‘AquaViva’, Leveraging Digital Innovations and Ecosystem Partnerships for Marine Conservation

BAKU, Azerbaijan & SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 18, 2024--

At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), Ant International, a digital payment and financial technology leader, announced the launch of AquaViva, its new global programme for marine conservation, which aims to support healthy marine ecosystems through the company’s digital innovations and open collaborative partnerships. Ant International will focus on marine conservation as a key aspect of its environmental sustainability efforts.

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The ocean represents our greatest ally against the impacts of climate change. It generates 50 percent of the oxygen we need, absorbs 25 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions and captures 90 percent of the excess heat generated by these emissions. Although over 190 countries adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – an international commitment to better protect the planet, only 8% of the ocean is protected so far, short of the 30% target necessary to sustain the ocean’s benefits for our people and environment.

Ant International leverages innovation and partnerships to drive positive change

Ant International aims to leverage its expertise in tech innovation and reach via digital platforms to mobilise the global community that its businesses serve or intersect with, towards adopting a sustainability mindset and supporting eco-friendly initiatives that benefit marine ecosystems. Taking an open collaborative approach, Ant International will work with partners across public and private sectors to drive collective impact and aims to make more progress towards climate sustainability, MSME inclusion and digital enablement ahead of COP30.

With an ecosystem comprising over 90 million merchants, of which many are MSMEs, and 1.6 billion digital users, Ant International will leverage these extensive digital channels to reach global users to motivate them to take sustainable and meaningful actions towards marine conservation.

For example, Ant International has supported its ecosystem partner, GCash in the Philippines, with its GForest initiative, to encourage its users with eco-friendly activities and support tree planting.

Leiming Chen, Chief Sustainability Officer, Ant International, said: “Digital innovation can play such a substantive role in sustainability awareness and action, as we have seen from the very successful forest initiative by our partner GCash. Ant International decided to focus on marine conservation and biodiversity due to the huge impact that the ocean has, not just to the climate but to so many local communities and livelihoods, particularly here in Asia Pacific, where many communities are impacted by coastal changes. By leveraging our digital ecosystem and partners, we can effectively reach millions of users, and together with our knowledge partners, drive large-scale information sharing and incentivise users to take action and track their progress.”

AquaViva partners with Conservation International for whale shark conservation

Conservation International, a global organisation with over 25 years of experience in Asia Pacific (APAC) conservation, joins as AquaViva’s first key partner, contributing their deep expertise to protect oceans and enhance ecosystem health. Ant International and Conservation International will join hands to drive marine conservation efforts from Singapore, where both organisations have established presence, to the APAC region.

The inaugural joint project will focus on whale shark conservation in Indonesia. Led by Conservation International's main implementing partner Konservasi Indonesia, the project will engage with Indonesian authorities and communities to develop and implement ecotourism policies and practices that support whale shark-friendly, sustainable tourism around key habitats in Saleh Bay, Sumbawa; Gorontalo, Sulawesi; and Kaimana, West Papua.

Dr Richard Jeo, Senior Vice-President, Asia-Pacific Field Division, Conservation International, commented: “Oceans are the lifeline of our planet's survival, yet their immense importance is often overlooked. Over 600 million people rely on the ocean for food and livelihoods, and it plays a critical role in regulating and stabilizing Earth’s climate. Protecting our oceans is essential for human survival. Initiatives like AquaViva are crucial in raising awareness about the ocean’s often-overlooked role in climate regulation, food security, and the emerging blue economy.”

The two parties will also further explore partnerships where Conservation International can enhance its research capacity on furthering their marine conservation work, leveraging Ant International’s digital solutions to draw more insights from the research data they collect.

AquaViva will leverage Ant International’s digital capabilities to raise awareness, educate communities, and foster a global mindset toward marine sustainability. This includes leveraging data analytics and outreach platforms to support Conservation International’s research and deepen insights into conservation efforts. Through these advanced digital tools, the partnership aims to inspire a broad audience, bringing together governments, corporations, and individuals to drive eco-friendly practices that benefit marine life.

About Ant International

Headquartered in Singapore, Ant International powers the future of global commerce with digital innovation for everyone and every business to thrive. In close collaboration with partners, we support merchants of all sizes worldwide to realise their growth aspirations through a comprehensive range of tech-driven digital payment and financial services solutions.

About Conservation International

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

AquaViva introduced at the Singapore Pavilion at COP29 (Photo: Business Wire)

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The United States and the Philippines signed an agreement on Monday to secure the exchange of highly confidential military intelligence and technology in key weapons the U.S. would provide to Manila.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, signed the legally binding General Security of Military Information Agreement in Manila at a time when the longtime treaty allies have boosted their defense and military engagements, including large-scale joint combat drills, largely in response to China’s increasingly aggressive actions in Asia.

The outgoing Biden administration has taken steps to strengthen an arc of military alliances across the Indo-Pacific region to better counter China, including in any future confrontation over Taiwan or in the disputed South China Sea, which Beijing has claimed almost in its entirety.

That has dovetailed with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s thrust to strengthen his country’s external defenses given an alarming escalation of territorial confrontations between Chinese and Filipinos forces in the South China Sea.

The Department of National Defense in Manila said the agreement aims to ensure the security of classified military information that would be exchanged between the U.S. and the Philippines.

It will “allow the Philippines access to higher capabilities and big-ticket items from the United States,” the Philippine defense department said.

Neither side provided more details or released a copy of the agreement.

Two Philippine security officials, however, have told The Associated Press that such an agreement, similar to ones Washington has signed with other allied countries, would allow the U.S. to provide the Philippines with higher-level intelligence and more sophisticated weapons, including missile systems.

It would also provide the Philippine military access to U.S. satellite and drone surveillance systems with an assurance that such intelligence and details about sophisticated weapons would be kept highly secure to prevent possible leaks, the two Philippine officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive issue publicly.

Philippine efforts to obtain sophisticated weapons from the U.S. military in the past have been hampered by a lack of such an intelligence deal, including when Filipino forces were scrambling to fight a 2017 siege by Filipino and foreign militants aligned with the Islamic State group in southern Marawi city. Philippine forces, backed by U.S. and Australian spy planes, quelled the uprising after five months.

Austin and Teodoro also attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a center where the U.S. and Philippine militaries would coordinate future joint operations, including the exchange of information. Austin said the center “will be a place where our forces can work side-by-side to respond to regional challenges."

Austin renewed the U.S. commitment to the Philippines as an ally and told Teodoro that “we are more than allies. We are family."

The coordinating center, Teodoro said, would provide “a unified picture of the shared areas of responsibility and common approaches to threats against both our securities."

"I’m sure it will benefit future generations of both our peoples to come because although we may change people, the values don’t change,” Teodoro said.

The Philippine defense chief reiterated the crucial need for the U.S. security presence in the region, citing Marcos’s repeated statements that such a presence “is essential for maintaining peace and stability in this region."

Associated Press journalist Aaron Favila contributed to this report.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, second right, and his delegation at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon, Pool)

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his delegation at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon, Pool)

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, right, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pose for a photograph during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon, Pool)

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, right, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pose for a photograph during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon, Pool)

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, right, shakes hands with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerard Carreon, Pool)