HMS Lancaster, a Royal Navy frigate, left for Kochi port. , Photo Credit: H Vibhu
TeaThe oceans hold immense opportunities for the prosperity of our planet. It is therefore not surprising that the most prosperous cities and countries are endowed with a coast. G20 countries together share about 45% of the world’s coastline and more than 21% of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). Oceans are reservoirs of global biodiversity, important regulators of global weather and climate, and support the economic well-being of billions of people in coastal regions. Word ‘Blue Economy’ This includes not only ocean-dependent economic development, but also inclusive social development and environmental and ecological protection. Recognizing the contribution of the ocean economy to sustainable development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “For me, the blue circle in the flag of India … represents the potential of the ocean economy.”
lots of initiatives
Government of India has taken bold initiatives to promote the development of blue economy. The Sagarmala initiative promotes port-led development. Shipbuilding Financial Assistance The policy encourages domestic shipbuilding. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is actively generating ‘Blue Revolution’ through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector. The Sagar Manthan dashboard tracks ships in real time. The Deep Ocean Mission explores the deep ocean resources in the EEZ and continental shelf as well as the development of technology for their exploitation. India adopted Coastal Regulation Zone Notification to classify and better manage coastal zones and protect ecologically sensitive coastal and marine areas including ecosystems. As the host of World Environment Day in 2018, Shri Modi has a Call to eliminate single use plastic, In 2022, the global community comes together for a multilateral treaty on addressing plastic pollution. In the same year, India introduced an amendment to the Plastic Waste Management Rules banning select single-use plastic items and introduced policies for expanded producer responsibility in waste management to combat plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
From this position of strength, as part of India’s G20 Presidency, the blue economy has been articulated as a key priority area under the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group. It aims to promote the adoption of high-level principles that guide sustainable and equitable economic development through the sea and its resources, as well as address climate change and other environmental challenges. This approach is in line with Mr. Modi’s call for global adoption of ‘Lifestyle for the Environment’, which promotes conscious use over thoughtless consumption patterns.
Over the past decade, the G20 Forum has discussed some specific ocean-related issues. These include the G20 Action Plan on Marine Litter, the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision and the Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform. Last year, an overall discussion on blue economy was launched at the Ocean 20 launch in Bali. India’s commitment to prioritizing oceans and blue economy under its chairmanship will ensure continued discussion on this important topic and pave the way for future G20 Chairs.
However, we must also acknowledge that ambitious efforts by countries to expand their blue economies are being threatened by extreme weather events, ocean acidification and sea level rise. Increasing marine pollution, over-exploitation of resources and unplanned urbanization also pose significant threats to ocean, coastal and marine ecosystems and biodiversity. The inherent interconnectedness of the oceans means that activities in one part of the world can have ripple effects across the globe. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all countries for their conservation, protection and sustainable use. As the blue economy involves many stakeholders and affects many other sectors of the national economy, effective and efficient ocean and blue economy governance also presents a significant challenge.
an important role
In this context, India’s G20 Presidency will play an important role in promoting individual and collective action to facilitate the transition towards a sustainable blue economy. The G20 comprises a diverse group of countries with varying national circumstances. Several G20 members have released their strategies for the development and/or expansion of their blue economies. The platform presents an excellent opportunity to share best practices with all stakeholders, foster collaboration for advancements in science and technology, promote public-private partnerships and create an effective communication to create novel blue finance mechanisms . The outcomes of this forum should further inform other international negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, etc. are closely related to each other. Managing the oceans is an investment that will last for generations to come. The spirit of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ should unite the global community for the welfare of our oceans.