, Government of India, in collaboration with the Embassies of France and Costa Rica, organized the Second Blue Talks at Prithvi Bhawan, New Delhi){kind=link}
MAY 21: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, in collaboration with the Embassies of France and Costa Rica, organized the Second Blue Talks at Prithvi Bhawan, New Delhi. This high-level event is a key milestone in the lead-up to the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), scheduled for June 9–13, 2025, in Nice, France.
Building upon the momentum of the first Blue Talks held in February 2024, this second edition brought together prominent scientists, policymakers, diplomats, industry leaders, and civil society representatives. The event served as a collaborative platform to drive forward the sustainable use and conservation of ocean resources, aligning closely with the core themes of UNOC3.
The session was chaired by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, and co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Néstor Baltodano Vargas, Ambassador of Costa Rica, and Mr. Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy.
In his address, Dr. Ravichandran emphasized the importance of ocean mapping, technology development, robust policies, and human resource investment to meet the goals of SDG 14 and the UN Decade of Ocean Science. Ambassador Vargas echoed this sentiment, highlighting the role of international partnerships in tackling marine challenges.
A key highlight of the event was the release of a white paper titled “Transforming India’s Blue Economy: Investment, Innovation and Sustainable Growth.” The document outlines a comprehensive strategy for leveraging India’s marine assets through cross-sectoral collaboration, increased investment, and sustainable development. It reflects India’s commitment to the Chennai High-Level Principles and the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
The paper also identifies existing challenges, including limited data sharing, insufficient private sector engagement, and gaps in ocean technologies. It proposes actionable solutions like promoting women-led seaweed farming, green port infrastructure, and eco-friendly ship recycling.
Key themes of the stakeholder dialogues included marine ecosystem restoration, ocean science and technology, pollution reduction, and ocean-climate-biodiversity interlinkages.
As Mr. Syed noted, the timing of this dialogue is crucial, especially as India moves toward ratifying the BBNJ Agreement, reaffirming its leadership in global ocean governance.