The last few years have seen a serious uptick in the environmental efforts by nations worldwide. As part of a crucial step forward, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of India collaborated with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to embark on an initiative addressing the escalating problem of marine pollution. This partnership has been established under the moniker ‘India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative’.
The India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative
The recent launch of this joint initiative aims to address one of the fastest-growing environmental concerns – marine pollution. In January 2019, the governments of India and Norway agreed to strengthen their ocean-related collaborations by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and establishing the India-Norway Ocean Dialogue. Furthermore, a Joint Task Force on Blue Economy was set up that includes government officials, researchers, experts, and the private sector for developing sustainable solutions within strategic areas such as the maritime and marine sectors, as well as the energy sector.
The Purpose and Potential Impact
This initiative aims to support local governments in implementing sustainable waste management practices, develop systems for collecting and analyzing information about marine pollution sources and scope, improve private sector investment, and much more. Support will also be directed towards beach clean-up efforts, awareness campaigns, and pilot projects — for example, using plastic waste as fuel substitution for coal in cement production and developing frameworks for deposit schemes. Through this partnership, Norway and India will share experiences and competence, and collaborate towards cultivating clean and healthy oceans.
Key Facts About Marine Pollution
| Sources of Marine Pollution | Impact on Marine Life | Area Covered by Dead Zones |
|---|---|---|
| Land-based sources account for approximately 80% of global marine pollution. | Excessive nutrients from pollution lead to low oxygen areas (dead zones) where most marine life cannot survive | The global surface area of dead zones is over 245,000 km², equivalent to the size of the United Kingdom. |
Marine Pollution: A Closer Look
Marine pollution is predominantly land-based, with agriculture run-off, nutrient and pesticide discharges, and untreated sewage, including plastics making up around 80% of it. This situation has led to an increase in low oxygen or hypoxic areas known as ‘dead zones’ where marine life usually can’t survive which often results in ecosystem collapse. These ‘dead zones’ currently cover over 245,000 km² globally, approximately the size of the United Kingdom. Marine litter, especially plastics, pose another major threat. Birds and fish can choke on these particles, or they may accumulate in their stomachs or entangle them. The marine ecosystem was also gravely affected by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico deep-water oil spill, impacting livelihoods dependent on marine areas. Smaller oil spills due to drilling incidents or leaking motors cause death to birds, marine mammals, algae, fish, and shellfish daily.
The Importance of a Clean Ocean
The ocean is a critical source of nourishment, particularly for the world’s poorest nations. Many people rely on fish as their primary protein source. Fisheries and aquaculture support about 540 million people (around 8% of the world’s population) both directly and indirectly. Overfishing, loss of biodiversity, and possible species extinction stress these limited resources, potentially leading to famine, increased poverty, and conflicts, including war. Managing the ocean sustainably is the only way towards global prosperity and peace. International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines on shipping fuel serve as a guide in this direction.