Editorial 2 : Ocean is Everybody’s Business
Context: United Nations Ocean Conference
Introduction: Importance of Ocean
- India has a coastline of 7,517 km with around 33% population living in coastal areas.
- Blue economy is recognized as a core growth dimension in India’s Vision 2030.
- Global Ocean Role: Provides livelihoods for 1 in 3 people globally.
Challenges to Ocean Sustainability
- Environmental Threats
- Plastic Pollution: More than 8 million tons of plastic enter oceans annually.
- Overfishing: Over 33% of global fish stocks are overexploited.
- Climate Change Impacts: Ocean acidification, rising sea levels, and ecosystem destruction accelerating.
- Governance & Knowledge Gaps
- Legal Vacuum: 60% of oceans (high seas) lack international governance.
- Issues: Illegal fishing, pollution, lack of surveillance.
- Scientific Limitations: Ocean depths remain 95% unexplored despite covering 70% of Earth’s surface.
UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) Goals
- Hosts: France and Costa Rica (June 9–13, 2024, in Nice).
- Objective: Operationalize ocean protection through actionable commitments.
- Key Focus Areas
- Governance: Ratify the BBNJ Agreement (Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction)
- Financing: Mobilize public/private funds for sustainable blue economy initiatives (e.g. shipping, tourism).
- Knowledge & Innovation: Enhance Ocean mapping, research, and public education.
India’s Role & Collaborative Initiatives
- National Priorities
- Blue Economy: Central to India’s Vision 2030 for coastal development and resource management.
- Coastal Population: Ensuring livelihoods while balancing environmental protection.
- Pre-UNOC3 Engagement
- To prepare for the UNOC3 milestone nationally and to reflect on India’s visions, France will be organising a Festival of Ideas, aptly named Not in my ocean.
- Blue Talks: Collaboration with India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences and Costa Rica.
Conclusion and Way Forward
- Multilateral Imperative: Ocean protection requires global cooperation amid climate and governance challenges.
- UNOC3 as a Watershed Moment: UNOC3 has the Potential to replicate the success of COP21 by creating binding frameworks.
- Focus: Strengthen governance, funding, and knowledge-sharing for SDG alignment.
- Public Engagement: Critical to raise awareness and drive grassroots action (e.g. festivals, educational programs).