Editorial

On 16 September the world marks World Ozone Day, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The occasion commemorates the 1987 Montreal Protocol, humanity’s most successful environmental treaty. That agreement proved that science, diplomacy and collective will can reverse even planetary-scale damage. The ozone layer is recovering; the hole over Antarctica is shrinking. Yet the day arrives amid new and interlocking crises that demand the same spirit of cooperation.

In Geneva the WTO Public Forum continues its deliberations on the future of global trade. In Gandhinagar the World Circular Economy Forum gathers policymakers, businesses and experts to rethink production and consumption. These concurrent gatherings are not coincidental. They speak to the same underlying challenge: how to sustain prosperity without destroying the natural systems that make prosperity possible.

The Montreal Protocol succeeded because nations accepted shared responsibility and common but differentiated obligations. That model remains relevant. Trade rules negotiated in Geneva can either accelerate or obstruct the transition to cleaner technologies. Circular economy practices discussed in Gujarat—designing products for reuse, repairing rather than discarding, recovering materials instead of extracting virgin resources—offer practical pathways to reduce the emissions and chemical pollution that once threatened the ozone layer and now drive climate change.

India’s hosting of the Circular Economy Forum is particularly timely. As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India faces the dual imperative of lifting millions out of poverty while limiting environmental harm. Circular approaches can create jobs in recycling, remanufacturing and sustainable design even as they ease pressure on landfills and ecosystems. Linking these domestic efforts to international trade frameworks can help ensure that green products move freely across borders rather than facing new barriers.

The ozone story teaches an essential lesson: environmental protection and economic progress are not zero-sum. The phase-out of ozone-depleting substances spurred innovation in refrigerants, foams and aerosols. Similar innovation is required today in energy, materials and logistics. The WTO can facilitate technology transfer and prevent green protectionism. Circular economy forums can translate ambition into measurable industrial change.

On this Ozone Day the message should be clear. The sky is healing because the world acted together. The Earth will heal only if we apply the same discipline to climate, trade and resource use. Geneva and Gandhinagar offer platforms for that next chapter of cooperation. The opportunity must not be squandered.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has voiced deep concern over the escalating blockades and attacks in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz. The statement comes as Houthi forces intensify strikes on Saudi cities and a vessel carrying 14 Indian seafarers is targeted off the Oman coast. These are not distant troubles. They strike at the heart of India’s economic security and the safety of its citizens.

Nearly 80 per cent of India’s oil imports and a large share of its trade with Europe, Africa and West Asia transit these narrow waterways. Any prolonged disruption raises freight costs, insurance premiums and, ultimately, domestic fuel and commodity prices. For a country still managing inflationary pressures and seeking energy security, such risks are unacceptable. The presence of Indian seafarers on commercial vessels further elevates the issue from pure economics to one of national responsibility. The government must ensure rapid consular support, coordinated search-and-rescue efforts with Oman and other partners, and clear communication with families.

The Houthi campaign, framed by its authors as solidarity with Gaza, has evolved into a broader threat to global commerce. Attacks on shipping, regardless of destination or cargo, undermine the principle of freedom of navigation that underpins the international order. India’s measured response—expressing concern while avoiding entanglement in the underlying conflicts—reflects a consistent preference for diplomacy and multilateral pressure. Yet restraint must not be mistaken for indifference. New Delhi should intensify engagement with the United States, European partners, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt to restore secure passage. Naval deployments under existing frameworks, intelligence sharing and joint maritime patrols can deter further incidents without expanding the conflict.

At home, the episode underscores the need for strategic resilience. Diversifying energy sources, accelerating the transition to renewables, expanding strategic petroleum reserves and exploring alternative shipping routes are long-term imperatives. Simultaneously, India must continue building naval capacity and port infrastructure that strengthen its role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean region.

The Red Sea and Hormuz crises are tests of whether the international community can still protect the global commons. For India, with its growing economy and large diaspora of seafarers, the stakes are immediate and concrete. Expressing concern is necessary. Sustained diplomatic, naval and economic action is essential. The safety of trade routes and of Indian lives at sea cannot be left to chance.

• SAS Kirmani