Focus: GS-III Environment and Ecology, International Relations
Introduction
- Almost half of the world’s inhabitants depend on the oceans for food and employment.
- Oceans are already under tremendous pressure and there is an urgent need for concerted action to ensure a more sustainable and integrated approach in years to come.
India – Norway and Ocean Industries
- The ocean industries — offshore energy, maritime transportation, seafood and newer industries — constitute the backbone of the Norwegian economy.
- Norwegian businesses recognise the vast potential of the Indian blue economy industries, and can offer important competence.
- India has launched an ambitious Deep Ocean Mission in 2019 which over a five-year span will explore the deepest recesses of the Central Indian Ocean Basin, look at harnessing tidal energy and study the oceans’ biodiversity, metals and minerals.
- A recent “blue paper” commissioned by the high-level panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy makes the case for integrated ocean management for achieving a sustainable ocean economy.
- The longstanding scientific partnership between India and Norway regarding ocean research has been strengthened with the launch of a Joint Initiative on Integrated Ocean Management between our two countries.
Addressing Marine Litter
- Marine litter is an environmental issue that represents a significant risk for the blue economy as well as for marine life itself.
- India has ambitions to phase out single-use plastic by 2022.
- India and Norway established a Joint Marine Pollution Initiative, which is taking advantage of our respective strengths in waste management, marine research, business and technology in order to learn from one another and implement best practices.
- India and Norway are both strongly committed to achieving ambitions set in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
World Oceans Day
- World Oceans Day is an international day that takes place annually on the 8th of June.
- The International day supports the implementation of worldwide Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and fosters public interest in the management of the ocean and its resources.
- The theme of UN World Oceans Day 2020 is “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean.”
-Source: Hindustan Times
