Thu Mar 20 09:26:55 UTC 2025: ## French Ambassador Invites Tamil Nadu CM to Ocean Summit
**Chennai, March 20, 2025** – The French Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou, extended an invitation to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to participate in a high-level summit on ocean rise and coastal resilience. The summit, a precursor to the UN Ocean Conference 2025 in Nice, France, will focus on sharing best practices and securing funding for impacted regions.
The invitation was extended during a visit to the *Plastic Odyssey*, a French research vessel currently docked in Chennai. The ship, on a three-year global expedition combating plastic pollution, has made a month-long stop in the city as part of its journey through 35 countries.
Ambassador Mathou praised Tamil Nadu’s proactive approach to coastal resilience, highlighting the state’s crucial role in developing solutions to the challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between local and national governments to address these issues, particularly in regions like the Pacific Islands, which are highly vulnerable.
The European Union, represented by Ambassador Hervé DM Delphiin, also reaffirmed its commitment to working with India, particularly Tamil Nadu, on research and innovation to reduce plastic waste and promote recycling. Simon Bernard, CEO and co-founder of Plastic Odyssey, explained that the vessel documents local sustainable initiatives and collaborates with NGOs to develop sustainable recycling models. The summit is expected to attract a high-level Indian delegation in June.
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