MoES Launches White Paper On Blue Economy At 'Blue Talks 2025' Ahead Of UN Ocean Conference

New Delhi, May 21 (KNN) India's Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) hosted the "Second Blue Talks" on May 20, 2025, at Prithvi Bhawan in New Delhi. 

The event was organised in collaboration with the Embassies of France and Costa Rica, serving as a preparatory forum for the upcoming 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) scheduled for June 9-13, 2025, in Nice, France.

The primary objective was to accelerate action toward ocean conservation and sustainable use, aligning with the UNOC3 theme.

Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, chaired the event alongside co-chairs H.E. Mr. Néstor Baltodano Vargas, Ambassador, Costa Rica to India, and Mr. Damien Syed, Deputy Head, Mission at the French Embassy. 

In his address, Dr. Ravichandran emphasised the need for comprehensive ocean resource mapping, cutting-edge technologies, policy interventions, and human capital development to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 and the objectives of the UN Ocean Decade.

A significant highlight of the event was the launch of a white paper titled "Transforming India's Blue Economy: Investment, Innovation and Sustainable Growth." 

As the nodal agency for Blue Economy implementation in India, MoES developed this document to provide a consolidated framework for government actions, cross-sectoral synergies, and increased investment in ocean resources.

The white paper emphasises the importance of India's marine resources, including its extensive coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone, as engines for national development. 

It highlights the collaborative efforts of 25 ministries and coastal states in driving sustainable growth across ocean-related sectors, building upon India's G20 Presidency commitments and the Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue Economy.

While acknowledging sectoral progress, the document identifies several challenges including the need for a unified approach, limited data sharing, low private investment, and technology gaps in emerging areas such as offshore wind and deep-sea exploration. 

It showcases successful models from across India, including women-led seaweed farming, smart port development, and green ship recycling.

The event featured stakeholder consultation sessions focused on four key themes: conserving marine ecosystems, enhancing scientific cooperation and knowledge building, reducing marine pollution, and addressing the interconnections between ocean, climate, and biodiversity.

(KNN Bureau)