Key Highlights The COP28 panel at the Commonwealth Pavilion showcased global collaboration for sustainable ocean management. Sustainable Finance Call: Secretary-General Patricia Scotland emphasized the urgent need for innovative finance for small island developing states (SIDS) and vulnerable coastlines. Innovative Mechanisms: The discussion explored emerging finance tools like blue bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, and insurance products. Blue […]
Key Highlights The concept rooted in prioritizing individual interests over the common good, highlighted by historical philosophers like Aristotle and Thucydides, was later coined by Alfred E. Kahn with the example of the railway system’s shutdown in Ithaca. William Odham extended the concept to environmental issues, emphasizing cumulative impact. Garrett Hardin’s “Tragedy of Commons” warns […]
Key Highlights Biosphere reserves promote holistic biodiversity conservation spanning flora, fauna, and communities. Local communities’ long-standing ties to these ecosystems offer essential insights into regional biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, and sustainable land-use techniques. An inclusive policy for biosphere reserve management becomes important as it creates scientifically grounded strategies that honor the land’s cultural and historical significance […]
Key Highlights Despite being a critical component of the Earth’s environment, the underwater ecosystem remains one of the least understood and underexplored areas. Multilaterally, India actively engages in regional forums and organizations such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to collaborate on UDA initiatives. Bilaterally, India has […]
Key Highlights Routine underwater commercial activities are being targeted and weaponised, increasing vulnerabilities to critical national infrastructure. Against this backdrop, the importance of Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) need not be overstated. It studies the scope of increasingly vulnerable maritime infrastructure like oil and gas pipelines, electricity grids, and underwater communication networks that have emerged as […]
Key Highlights The specific and specialized technology required for deep sea mining and the added sustainability concerns can only be addressed with enhanced Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA). The acoustic survey being the only means for UDA, requires specialized acoustic capacity and capability building. Strategic security @ 100 refers to 2047 or whereabouts, not just when […]
Key Highlights The Indian Ocean region is biodiverse, and its unique oceanic characteristics pose a significant challenge of biofouling for vessels. Baseline studies are required for a holistic understanding of biofouling species, and appropriate antifouling measures should be adopted. Antifouling coatings are the conventional techniques but may cause potential environmental degradation. Ultrasonic antifouling systems are […]
Key Highlights A sizable percentage of global trade flows pass through the Indo-Pacific area. While the United States has mutual defence treaties with other Asian nations like Japan and South Korea, it does not have such an arrangement with Taiwan. The long-term impact of projects like the QUAD and AUKUS on the regional balance of […]
Key Highlights The recently concluded G20 Summit in New Delhi made a successful declaration to unite the global community and commit to “One Earth, One Family, and One Future.” Biosphere reserves are a great concept to ensure the protection of ecologically sensitive regions from the onslaught of so-called development. The UDA framework enables policy and […]
Key Highlights Anthropocentric or Human centric paradigm involves alignment of the humans at the center of economic, social and environmental considerations G20 summit (hosted by India) outcomes suggest the growth of Blue economy along the lines of human centric development, to support livelihood opportunities Aquaculture is a great way to increase the penetration of blue […]
