Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 3 (ANI): Deputy Ambassador of Norway to India Arvinn Gadgil expressed optimism about deeper collaboration between India and Norway to address rising pollution, marine litter and to create youth employment through the plastic recycling economy. He called the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative “an incredible opportunity to unlock cooperation and the value of cooperation between Norway and India,” noting India’s long coastline and private-sector innovation as assets to pair with Norwegian expertise.
Consul General of Norway Monica Nagelgaard said the conference demonstrated how much India and Norway can learn from each other’s practices and cooperation. Indian environmental activist and lawyer Afroz Shah emphasized community involvement, saying plastic pollution can be solved only through collaboration and public participation, and that India and Norway can mutually learn—Norway from India’s circular-economy approaches and India from Norway’s practices.
The India-Norway Marine Pollution and Plastic Waste Forum, hosted by Norway in Mumbai on December 2–3, focused on innovative collaboration and key challenges. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board said on X that the 2nd Annual Meeting on “Circular Economy Approaches” included Siddhesh Kadam, MPCB Chairman, as Chief Guest. Kadam addressed the pollution crisis, marine pollution and employment opportunities in the plastic recycling sector. Attendees included MPCB officials, Norwegian consular representatives, environmental expert Prof. Dr. Prasad Modak, and Afroz Shah.
Launched in 2019 under the bilateral India–Norway agreement on oceans and the Blue Economy, the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative aims to catalyze strategic collaborations to reduce marine litter and pollutants and promote sustainable waste management, especially for plastics. (ANI)
