The G20 leaders in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration expressed their commitment to conserve, protect, restore and sustainable use of the world’s ocean and marine ecosystem. They also unanimously decided to end plastic pollution.
Harnessing and Preserving the Ocean-based Economy
We commit to conserving, protecting, restoring and sustainably using the world’s ocean, marine ecosystems, and look forward to making progress and in this regard, contribute to the 2025 UN Ocean Conference.
To this end, we:
iWelcome the Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue/Ocean-based Economy.
Note the adoption of the new international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine Biological diversity of areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and call on all countries for its early entry into force and implementation.
Support the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), within the Antarctic Treaty system, to establish a representative system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the CCAMLR Convention area based on the best available scientific evidence.
Reiterate our commitment to ending illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as destructive fishing methods in accordance with international law.
Support the role of Ocean 20 Dialogue in making progress to achieve this agenda.
Ending Plastic Pollution
We are determined to end plastic pollution. In this context, we welcome the resolution UNEP/EA.5/Res.14 which established an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment, with the ambition of completing its work by the end of 2024. We will also build on the G20 Marine Litter Action Plan as elucidated in the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision.
