project
Coordinating and Providing a Common Platform for India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative in India
Background
Launched in 2019, the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative is one of the activities under the bilateral agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Norway to cooperate on Oceans and develop a Blue Economy. A Letter of Intent was signed between the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway to jointly work on the Initiative. It focuses on innovative, catalytic, and strategic collaborations with the objective of reducing marine litter and other pollutants, and ensuring more sustainable management of waste, in particular plastic waste. The initiative is complementary to the UNEA Resolution 4 (Sub-resolutions 7 and 10 on marine plastic litter & micro-plastics, and pollution by single-use plastic products, respectively) and the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA). It is aligned with the Prime Minister’s announcement of phasing out single use plastic products by 2022, the Indian Government’s Action Plan for the Clean Sea’s Campaign, and other major policies and missions such as the Swachh Bharat Mission and Clean Ganga Mission. The Initiative has five active projects being implemented by different agencies as follows: 1. Coordinating and Providing a Common Platform for India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative in India | Implemented by UNEP. 2. Ocean Plastic Turned into an Opportunity in Circular Economy – OPTOCE | Implemented by SINTEF. 3. India-Norway cooperation project on capacity building for reducing plastic and chemical pollution in India (INOPOL) | Implemented by NIVA. 4. Mainstreaming Circular Economy in the Waste Management Sector in India | Implemented by CSE. 5. Marine Litter and mindset change in Mumbai | Implemented by Afroz Shah Foundation
Purpose
Improve the management of marine pollution in India, and support India to actively engage globally on this issue.
Expected Outcomes
- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) actively contributes to the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative, supporting India in managing marine pollution and engaging in global discussions through its collaboration with the Marine Litter Cell at the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Key contributions include:
- 1. Policy and Research Support: UNEP has provided evidence-based inputs to strengthen the implementation of policy relating to banning single-use plastics (SUP) and EPR. Inputs have also provided on research capabilities on marine litter, and biomedical plastic waste management during COVID-19.
- 2. Global Knowledge Sharing: Leveraging UNEP’s global expertise, technical notes and reviews of Indian studies enhance governance and policy formulation.
- 3. Global Discourse Engagement: Facilitating dialogue on international agreements addressing marine litter and plastic pollution at forums like UNEA 5.2.
- 4. Capacity Building: Supporting the implementation of national regulations, SUP bans, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines through training and awareness programs.
- 5. Sub-National Support: Collaborating with states such as Bihar and Uttarakhand and cities like Agra, Haridwar, and Prayagraj to develop effective plastic waste management strategies.
- 6. Coordination and Monitoring: UNEP ensures alignment among partners, coordinates review meetings, and provides technical assistance for data analysis and reporting on plastics.
- Through these efforts, UNEP strengthens India’s initiatives for tackling marine pollution and advancing sustainable plastic management practices.
