As oceans reel under the dual pressures of climate change and unsustainable development, the India Water Foundation (IWF) convened a powerful High-Level Policy Dialogue on “Multi-sectoral Partnerships for the Conservation and Restoration of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems”. It took place virtually on 11 June 2025 at 18:00 hrs IST, an official virtual side event to the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference.
Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission of India, who chaired the dialogue, applauded IWF’s leadership and emphasized that the time for action is now. He noted, “This forum is a bridge from recognition to implementation. Let us act through collaboration, data-driven insights, rights-based principles, and outcome-oriented action. Oceans are not peripheral they are fundamental to climate resilience, livelihoods, and human rights.”
Dr. Arvind Kumar, President, India Water Foundation, opened the event with a clarion call for urgent, inclusive, and systemic responses to the ocean crisis. “With coral reefs bleaching, marine species vanishing, and over 199 million tonnes of plastic choking our waters, the world’s oceans are nearing a tipping point. Resilience demands polycentric models—where innovation is local, coordination cross-sectoral, and governance truly collaborative,” he said. He stressed that achieving the SDGs and the 30×30 biodiversity target requires robust finance, knowledge sharing, and institutional reforms.
The event featured a distinguished panel of global experts and leaders:
Dr. Yutaka Michida, Special Presidential Envoy for UN Ocean Decade, The University of Tokyo
Ms. Sinikinesh Beyene Jimma, Acting Head, Marine and Freshwater Branch, UNEP
Dr. Essam Yassin Mohammed, Senior Director of Aquatic Food Systems, CGIAR; Director General, WorldFish
Mr. Sanath Ranawana, Director, Agriculture, Food, Nature and Rural Development Sector Group, Asian Development Bank
Dr.-Ing. Steffen Knodt, Chairman, National Ocean Decade Committee, Germany
Dr. Rishi Sharma, Senior Fishery Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Dr. Sanjiba Kumar Baliarsingh, Scientist C, INCOIS, Government of India
Ms. Ine Moulaert, Valorisation Manager, Flanders Marine Institute, Belgium
Moderated by Ms. Shweta Tyagi, Chief Functionary, IWF, the dialogue highlighted key themes of urgency, interconnectivity, innovation, and equity.
Speakers collectively underscored that coastal and marine ecosystems underpin food security, climate regulation, and economic prosperity—supporting over 3 billion people. Over 35% of fish stocks are being exploited unsustainably; ocean acidification has risen by 30% and coral reefs face up to 90% loss under a 2°C warming scenario. Only 1.6% of global climate finance is ocean-focused—requiring an urgent scaling up of blue finance, blended capital, and innovative instruments like blue bonds and carbon credits; integrating indigenous knowledge, citizen science, and local governance structures is critical to delivering inclusive ocean stewardship.
Link: https://smeworld.asia/time-for-blue-action-high-level-policy-dialogue-urges-urgent-ocean-stewardship
Source: SME World