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India Eyes Resilient Blue Economy for Growth
13 Nov
Summary
- A resilient blue economy integrates sustainable use and hazard mitigation.
- Weather forecasts aim for district, block, and panchayat level accuracy.
- India targets boosting blue economy's contribution to national GDP.
The 92nd annual meeting of the Indian Academy of Sciences commenced on Friday at the National Centre for Earth Science Studies in Thiruvananthapuram. A key focus was the development of a 'resilient blue economy,' described as the intersection of sustainable resource use, robust infrastructure, hazard mitigation, and nature-based protection.
Experts stressed the importance of simultaneously addressing climatic challenges like sea-level rise and non-climatic issues such as marine pollution. Filling gaps in resource mapping, technology development, and human capital are deemed essential for building this economy.
Inaugurating the event, the Ministry of Earth Sciences highlighted advancements in weather observation networks under Mission Mausam. The initiative aims to provide highly accurate forecasts, extending down to the panchayat level, for various stakeholders including farmers and disaster managers.
The Deep Ocean Mission's outcomes are expected to bolster India's Blue Economy framework, which currently contributes 4% to the national GDP and aims to reach 8-10% in the coming years.
Discussions also covered advancements in understanding gene function through mutational scanning, with potential applications in therapeutics and vaccine development, underscoring the growing relevance of earth sciences research in the era of climate change and increasing natural hazards.
