Lisbon: Leaders from over 130 countries across the world will deliberate for five days to find an international agreement on protecting the world’s oceans, seas and marine resources at the 5-day UN Ocean Conference that took off today with the Governments of Kenya and Portugal being the co-hosts.
The Ocean Conference comes at a crucial juncture as the world is seeking to address many of the challenges requiring structural transformations and Innovative and Green solutions to achieve the SDG Goal 14, which calls for Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources.
The UN had underlined on several occasions that the oceans on the planet are facing severe threats as a result of human activities and will likely become worse as the world population grows and human activities increase.
The ocean covers 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, is the planet’s largest biosphere, and is home to up to 80 per cent of all life in the world. It is not just ‘the lungs of the planet’ but also its largest carbon sink – a vital buffer against the impacts of climate change. It nurtures unimaginable biodiversity and produces food, jobs, mineral and energy resources.
However, the ocean is facing unprecedented threats as a result of human activities, and the Conference will seek to propel “much-needed” science-based innovative solutions aimed at starting a new chapter of global ocean action.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who is leading the Indian delegation, had bilateral talks with a number of Ministers from different countries attending the meet. Tomorrow, he is scheduled to present India’s statement before the full House of the UN meet. Other members of the Indian delegation from Ministries of External Affairs, Earth Sciences and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry etc will also be present.
Speaking to the media, Dr Singh outlined that India has already taken a big lead in Green Technology and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2030 goal is to reduce India’s emissions by 45 per cent by adding 500 gigawatts of renewable energy generators to the country’s power kitty, thereby reducing almost one billion tonnes of our CO2 emissions.
The Minister also pointed out that India recently undertook a nationwide awareness campaign to clean plastic and other waste from coastal areas and this mission will soon become a Jan Andolan.
– global bihari bureau
