UNOC 2022

• Recently, the UN (United Nations) Ocean Conference 2022 was held to ensure global cooperation towards protection and sustenance of the Ocean ecosystem of the world.
• The conference was co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal.
• Minister of Earth Sciences led the Indian delegation at UN Ocean Conference. India promised to provide science and innovation-based solutions for the implementation of Goal 14 through partnerships and environmentally friendly.
• The UN Ocean conference 2022 is aligned to SDG (Sustainable Develpment Goals) 14 ‘life below water’ and stresses on the critical need for scientific knowledge and marine technology to build ocean resilience.
• Push for a moratorium on deep-sea mining of rare metals needed for a boom electric vehicle battery construction.
• The digging and gauging of the ocean floor by machines can alter or destroy deep-sea habitats.
• Carbon Sequestration:
• Focus on carbon sequestration to boost the ocean’s capacity to soak up CO2, by either enhancing natural sinks such as mangroves or through geoengineering schemes.
• A “Blue Deal” was promoted to enable the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth.
• It includes global trade, investment and innovation to create a sustainable and resilient ocean economy.
• Focus on blue food to ensure marine harvests from all sources are sustainable and socially responsible.
• No comprehensive legal framework covers the high seas. Oceans cover some 70% of the earth’s surface and provide food and livelihoods for billions of people.
• Some activists refer to them as the largest unregulated area on the planet.
• Threats to the oceans include global warming, pollution (including plastic pollution), acidification, marine Heatwaves etc.

Initiatives to Ensure Sustainable Ocean Ecosystem

The UN has proclaimed a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) to support efforts to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework.

India- Norway Ocean Dialogue:

• In 2019, the Indian and Norwegian governments agreed to work more closely on oceans by signing a MoU and establishing the India-Norway Ocean Dialogue.
• India’s Deep Ocean Mission:
• it is a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT