In the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers' Meeting, the members adopted an Outcome document for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue Economy. The meeting was held in Chennai on July 28 and was attended by 225 delegates, including 41 Ministers from G20 member and guest countries. 

The G20 Members highlighted significant achievements and key takeaways centred around the priority areas under the Environment and Climate track: Land and Biodiversity, Blue Economy, Water Resource Management and Circular Economy. 

What Is Blue Ocean Agenda?

Bhupender Yadav, the Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, stated that India during its G20 Presidency, has set three primary themes for the Environment, Climate, and Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG): arresting land degradation, accelerating ecosystem restoration, and enriching biodiversity and water resource management. Additionally, there is a strong focus on promoting a sustainable and climate-resilient blue economy and encouraging resource efficiency and circular economy.

“On the Blue Ocean agenda, we have focused on the challenges associated with developing a sustainable and resilient blue economy. We organised the second edition of the Ocean 20 Dialogue, focusing on conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems, advancing marine spatial planning, combatting marine litter and enhancing financeâ€_x009d_, Bhupender Yadav added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the efforts in restoring priority landscapes impacted by forest fires and mining through the Gandhinagar Implementation Roadmap and Gandhinagar Information Platform. He highlighted the significance of Mission LiFE - Lifestyle for the Environment, a movement encouraging individual and collective action for environmental preservation.

“We have worked on developing the ‘G20 High Level Principles for a sustainable and resilient blue ocean economy’. These principles could be used on a voluntary basis as a framework for bringing sustainability into the ocean economy. The global ocean supports the livelihoods of nearly three billion peopleâ€_x009d_, said the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The meeting witnessed proactive engagement from over 225 delegates representing G20 member countries, invitee countries and heads and representatives of 23 international organisations, including UNEP, UNFCC, COP28 and UNCCD. The discussions revolved around critical challenges related to matters of climate and environment which are of the utmost global importance.