Context: Recently, the Indian Navy took steps to reduce its environmental footprint through energy conservation, minimising marine pollution and use of alternative sources of energy.
About the roadmap

• Environment Protection and Green Initiatives have always been a key focus area of the Indian Navy.
• The Indian Navy Environment Conservation Roadmap’ (INECR) has been the guiding document and key enabler for progressively achieving this vision of the Indian Navy to add a Green Footprint to its Blue Water operations.
• In efforts to reduce carbon footprint, measures have been brought in force for a steady increase in utilisation of e-vehicles such as e-cycles, e-trolley and e-scooters. 
• To promote the same, units observe ‘No Vehicle Days’ regularly and the concept of a ‘Vehicle Free Base’ is also being introduced in some Naval establishments.

Key Points of the recent initiatives

• Indian Navy has voluntarily implemented all six schedules of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) regulations. 
• All Naval ships have been fitted with MARPOL compliant pollution control equipment such as Oily Water Separators (OWS) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) for treating waste generated onboard 
• To ensure upkeep of harbour waters, accelerated bioremediation technology has also been developed through Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL), Mumbai.
• Efforts have also been made in the Navy to enhance the share of renewable energy. 24 MW of Solar PhotoVoltaic projects are at various stages of implementation in the Navy’s shore establishments with many individual units installing solar powered appliances. 
• An Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (ISWMF) is being set up at Naval station, Karwar, which includes a centralised waste segregation plant, Organic Waste Converter (OWC) for wet waste and a facility to handle dry/ unsegregated domestic waste.
• Indian Navy conducted the World Environment Day this year adhering to the lockdown measures in force and Educational awareness programs, lectures and webinars were conducted over electronic media in Naval stations in lieu of the otherwise regular outdoor activities.

Significance: 

• The new specification surpasses international norms and includes reduced sulphur content which in the long run will reduce emissions levels as well as maintenance requirements onboard. 
• Green Initiatives of the Navy have also been augmented by afforestation and plantation drives. In the past one year, over 16,500 trees have been planted which would mitigate an estimated 330 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide.
• To foster a sense of responsibility towards the environment, various mass participation events such as mass ‘shramdan’, coastal cleanship drives etc are organized regularly and 
• Overall, Indian Navy has maintained a steadfast focus towards  a sustainable future while integrating energy efficiency and environment conservation within its operational and strategic roles.

About MARPOL

• MARPOL is one of the most significant international marine environmental conventions.
• The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes.
• The MARPOL Convention was adopted on 2 November 1973 at IMO. The Protocol of 1978 was adopted in response to a spate of tanker accidents in 1976-1977.
• The current convention is a combination of the 1973 Convention and the 1978 Protocol, which entered into force on 2 October 1983.

The Convention includes regulations aimed at preventing and minimizing pollution from ships - and currently includes six technical Annexes:

• Annex I: Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil
• Annex II: Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk
• Annex III: Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form
• Annex IV: Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships
• Annex V: Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships
• Annex VI: Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships

In 2011, IMO became the first international regulator for a transport sector to adopt globally binding energy efficiency requirements, which apply to all ships globally, regardless of trading pattern or flag State, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.
International Maritime Organization

• The International Maritime Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
• IMO is responsible for measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships.
• It is also involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
• It was established by means of a Convention adopted under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva on 17 March 1948 and met for the first time in January 1959.
• It currently has 174 Member States.