One Ocean Summit: India Committed To Eliminating Single-Use Plastic, Says PM Modi

“India will be happy to join France in launching a global initiative on single-use plastics,” said Prime Minister Modi.

PM Modi speaking at Cop26 summit last year | Photo: AFP

New Delhi: Asserting New Delhi is committed to eliminating single-use plastic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he has also directed the Indian Navy to contribute 100 ship days this year to clean the plastic waste from the sea.

“India will be happy to join France in launching a global initiative on single-use plastics,” said Prime Minister Modi.

Addressing the high-level segment of One Ocean Summit, the Prime Minister said India has always been a maritime civilization, ANI reported.

“India supports the French initiative of a high ambition coalition on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction,” said Prime Minister Modi.

“We hope for a legally binding international treaty this year,” he added.

One Ocean Summit is being organised in France from February 9 to 11.

Convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, the three-day summit is focused on efforts to improve governance of the high seas and coordination of international scientific research.

The high-level segment of this summit was addressed by the French President Emannuel, US special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry, UN Secretary General António Guterres, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and other important leaders of the global marine community.

One Ocean Summit:

The decade between 2021 and 2030 has been declared as the 'Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development' by the United Nations to raise awareness and restore declining marine life.

Organised jointly by the IOC-UNESCO and the Government of France, this summit is the first major event taking place in the first year of the decade dedicated to the ocean.

The One Ocean Summit is being held in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the support of the United Nations,” read the statement by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.