Prime Minister spoke at the important One Ocean Summit, a significant event hosted by France in the beautiful city of Brest. This summit was a collaborative effort between France, the United Nations, and the World Bank.

About One Ocean Summit

• The summit was organised by France in Brest, France in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Bank.
• The goal of the One Ocean Summit is to raise the collective level of ambition of the international community on marine issues.
• Commitments will be made towards combating illegal fishing, decarbonising shipping and reducing plastic pollution.
• Will also focus on efforts to improve governance of the high seas and coordinating international scientific research.

India’s Stand at the Summit

• India, a nation with a rich history of seafaring, recognizes the significance of oceans for its security and prosperity.
• Marine resources form a crucial part of India’s “Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative”.
• India supports France’s initiative for a “High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction”.
• This coalition aims to bring together parties committed to achieving an ambitious outcome in the ongoing UN sponsored consultations on a High Seas Treaty.
• India is committed to eliminating single-use plastic.
• A nationwide program has been launched recently to clean up plastic and other debris from the country’s coastal areas.
• India has shown readiness to join France in a global effort to eliminate single-use plastics.
• India’s Navy is also instructed to clean the seas of plastic garbage for 100 ship days this year.

Importance of Oceans

• The ocean covers more than 70% of the surface of our planet, yet too often remains on the sidelines of major European and international events.
• The ocean is a regulator of major environmental balances, and climate in particular, a provider of resources, an important enabler of trade, and an essential link between countries and human communities.
• However, it is now seriously threatened by numerous pressures, such as the effects of climate change, pollution or the overexploitation of marine resources.
• In an effort to mobilise the international community and take tangible action to mitigate such pressures on the ocean, France has decided to organise a One Planet Summit dedicated to the ocean.

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