| Reference Date | Version | April 25, 2023 | 1.0 |
| Keywords | Blue economy, climate change, sustainable development goals, marine economy, Paris Agreement |
| Legislation(s)/Policies |
(i) The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) (ii) Draft Blue Economy Policy Framework (2022) (iii) Draft National Fisheries Policy, 2020 |
| Jurisdiction | India |
Expert guidance from energy legal advisors and infrastructure legal advisors is advisable to handle projects in areas such as renewable energy as an integrated approach would be required which needs to flow down to transaction and documentation structuring.
The Concept of Blue Economy
The Blue Economy (BE) may be defined as a range of economic sectors and related policies that collectively determine whether the use of ocean resources remains sustainable.
In the Indian context, NITI Aayog defines Blue Economy as the entire system of ocean resources and man-made economic infrastructure in marine, maritime and onshore coastal zones within India’s legal jurisdiction.
The concept links economic growth, environmental sustainability and national security.
An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report highlights that human-caused climate change is visible even in the remotest regions of the planet.
The report emphasizes the need for timely, coordinated and ambitious global action.
The United Nations declared the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development on 5 December 2017 to support sustainable management of oceans and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982 and enforced in 1994, continues to serve as the general legal framework governing activities in oceans and seas.
Several international conventions and trade frameworks, including those under the World Trade Organization (WTO), also influence activities connected with the Blue Economy.
Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG14 specifically focuses on conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas and marine resources.
The Oceans and Coastal Zones Climate Action Pathway under the UNFCCC also supports implementation of the Paris Agreement through long-term climate resilience goals.
The Scenario in India
India has a coastline stretching approximately 7,517 kilometers, making the Blue Economy highly relevant to national economic development.
The Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG), during its Bengaluru meeting in February 2023, discussed strategies to curb marine litter, strengthen climate-resilient blue economy principles and enhance marine biodiversity protection.
The Blue Economy has also emerged as a major area of focus during India’s G20 Presidency.
The Supreme Audit Institution Engagement Group (SAI20), chaired by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, has also taken up Blue Economy as a key area of interest.
The objective is to evaluate economic benefits derived from marine resources while ensuring conservation of marine ecosystems.
How India Promotes and Regulates Blue Economy
In 2022, the Draft Blue Economy Policy Framework was prepared to strengthen sustainable utilization of maritime resources.
The framework aims to optimize utilization of living and non-living resources, tourism, ocean energy and maritime infrastructure for sustainable coastal development.
Main Initiatives Undertaken by India
- Deep Ocean Mission: Focused on deep-sea exploration, marine resource utilization and development of deep-ocean technologies.
- India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy: Established to strengthen cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture, ocean renewable energy and reduction of marine pollution.
- Sagarmala Programme: Approved in 2015 to strengthen port-led development and coastal infrastructure growth.
- O-SMART Scheme: Supports ocean research and development programmes initiated through the Department of Ocean Development.
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management: Promotes sustainable management of coastal ecosystems through multidisciplinary approaches.
- National Fisheries Policy: The Draft National Fisheries Policy, 2020 aims to modernize fisheries and improve sustainability.
- NavIC: ISRO’s regional navigation satellite system supporting maritime navigation and related activities.
Conclusion
Different sectors connected with the Blue Economy must collaborate effectively to achieve sustainable economic growth aligned with global Sustainable Development Goals.
India possesses enormous marine and coastal potential which can contribute significantly toward economic growth, employment generation and climate resilience.
However, balancing economic activities with environmental conservation remains crucial.
Establishing effective regulatory frameworks, improving institutional coordination and increasing investments in sustainable marine infrastructure are necessary for long-term success.
The Blue Economy has the potential to become a major driver of sustainable growth if implemented through carefully balanced legal, environmental and economic strategies.
Legal Support in the Technology, Infrastructure and Energy Sector
Sources
- According to Madhushree Chatterjee, Chief of the Natural Resources and Interlinkages Branch of UN DESA’s Division for Sustainable Development Goals.
- The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Special Report on the Ocean and the Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC).
- https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/SROCC_FullReport_FINAL.pdf
- https://unfccc.int/blog/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-blue-economy-but-were-afraid-to-ask
- https://archive.uneca.org/sites/default/files/PublicationFiles/blue-economy-policy-handbook-1.5-legal-regulatory-institutional-framework_en.pdf
- Ibid.
- https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/maximising-the-benefits-of-india-s-blue-economy
- The Climate Action Pathways complement the Yearbook of Global Climate Action and the Global Climate Action Portal (GCAP).
- It is a Global Climate Action initiative supporting implementation of the Paris Agreement.
- https://unfccc.int/blog/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-blue-economy-but-were-afraid-to-ask
- https://theprint.in/world/what-is-blue-economy-and-why-india-and-the-world-are-talking-about-it/1421393/
- Ibid.
- Chaired by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
- This information was given by the Minister of State (I/C) for M/o Earth Sciences and M/o Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1845257
- https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/maximising-the-benefits-of-india-s-blue-economy
- https://dof.gov.in/sites/default/files/2020-12/Policy_0.pdf
- https://www.isro.gov.in/SatelliteNavigationServices.html
- https://theprint.in/world/what-is-blue-economy-and-why-india-and-the-world-are-talking-about-it/1421393/
- Ibid.
- https://archive.uneca.org/sites/default/files/PublicationFiles/blue-economy-policy-handbook-1.5-legal-regulatory-institutional-framework_en.pdf
Suniti Kaur (Ms) and Kashu Shubhamoorty (Ms)
Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Alaya Legal
