India and Norway, in continuation of the India-Norway Ocean Dialogue, signed a joint initiative to combat marine pollution, one of the fastest growing global environmental concerns
The Indian Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) signed a Letter of Intent with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to officially launch the ‘India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative’, on Tuesday. The move is in continuation to the MoU signed between both the countries establishing the India-Norway Ocean Dialogue, in January 2019.
An official statement from the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) said, “The Indian and Norwegian governments agreed to work more closely on oceans by signing an MoU and establishing the India-Norway Ocean Dialogue during the Norwegian Prime Minister’s visit to India in January.”
A Blue Economy Joint Task Force was also established under the ambit of the MOU signed between the countries. The primary responsibility of the task force would be to promote multi-sectorial cooperation in different aspects of the Blue Economy. Involving government officials, researchers and experts, the task force will develop sustainable solutions within strategic areas of maritime and marine sector.
With sectors such as fisheries, marine transport, waste management and tourism, Blue Economy is related to the optimum utilization of oceanic resources while maintaining their sustainability.
Both countries also pledged to share experiences and competence while having a collaborative approach on maintaining clean and healthy oceans.