Blue Flag Certification

The Blue Flag refers to an eco-label or a sustainable certificate conferred to marinas, beaches, and boat tour operators that fulfil a comprehensive set of requirements. Awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) non-profit organization in Denmark, these Blue Flag Certifications add to the sustainable development objectives. Keep reading the article below to learn more about Blue Flag Certifications that will help you better prepare for your competitive exams.

Blue Flag Certification - Overview

Recently, the Blue Flag Certification came into the limelight when the Foundation for Environment Education (FEE) in Denmark conferred this Blue Flag Certification to the Kovalam beach in Kerala and Eden beach in Puducherry. Also, with this, the total number of beaches in India with a Blue Flag Certification has come to ten. Here are some significant facts you must know about Blue Flag Certifications:

• The Foundation for Environmental Education, commonly known as FEE, is a non-profit institution in Denmark that grants Blue Flag Certifications to eco-friendly and sustainable beaches and marinas.
• A beach must fall under specific criteria and fulfil some set conditions to get a Blue Flag Certification from the Foundation for Environmental Education.
• The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has laid down 33 standards for water bodies' accessibility, education, and protection.
• Marinas, beaches (small docks or ports constructed for pleasure boats or ships), and eco-friendly boat excursion operators in FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) member nations get this certification.
• This certification is an eco-friendly tag given to beaches, and these certified beaches should have clean bathing facilities and different tourist facilities.
• Every beach certified with a Blue Flag Certification must display a blue flag logo.
• The certification is awarded to only the private boat operators from the FEE member countries and local governments.
• The Blue Flag Certification program git launched in France in 1985 and presented to the Foundation for Environmental Education in 1987.
• Approximately 4000 blue flag-certified beaches worldwide set an example for other beaches.

Blue Flag Certification Program's Mission

Here are some points that describe the Blue Flag Certification program's mission.

• Encouraging and actively participating in environmental awareness programs for the marinas, beaches, resorts, and boating operators' consumers.
• Setting in place influential safety and environmental control programs.
• To facilitate sustainable tourism and remain committed to collaborative effort and teamwork.
• Observing environmental requirements at beaches, marinas, and boating operators to lessen the impacts of human actions on the environment.

Blue Flag Certificatifies Beaches in India

The eight other beaches to get a Blue Flag Certification apart from Kovalam beach in Kerala and Eden beach in Puducherry.

• Golden Beach – Odisha
• Kappad Beach – Kerala
• Shivrajpur Beach – Gujarat
• Ghoghla Beach – Diu
• Radhanagar Beach – Andaman and Nicobar
• Padubidri Beach – Karnataka
• Kasarkod Beach – Karnataka
• Rushikonda Beach – Andhra Pradesh

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)

• The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is a non-profit organization based in Denmark with its headquarters in Copenhagen.
• This non-profit organization got instituted with the name the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE) in 1981.
• The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has 77 member countries.
• The other awareness programs conducted by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) are Eco-Schools, Green Key, Learning about Forests, Young Reporters for the Environment, and Global Forest Fund.

FAQs on Blue Flag Certification

Q.1. What does a Blue Flag Certification entail?

A Blue Flag Certification refers to a globally acknowledged eco-label and sustainable certification awarded to beaches and marinas by the Foundation for Environment Education (FEE), a non-profitable organization in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Q.2. How many beaches in India got a Blue Flag Certification, and what are the names of those beaches?

There are a total of 10 beaches in India with a Blue Flag Certification, and those beaches are as follows:

• Kovalam Beach – Kerela
• Eden Beach – Puducherry
• Golden Beach – Odisha
• Shivrajpur Beach – Gujarat
• Kappad Beach – Kerala
• Ghoghla Beach – Diu
• Radhanagar Beach – Andaman and Nicobar
• Kasarkod Beach – Karnataka
• Padubidri Beach – Karnataka
• Rushikonda Beach – Andhra Pradesh

Q.3. Where is the Foundation for Environmental Education headquarters that launched the Blue Flag Certification?

The Foundation for Environmental Education headquarters is situated in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Q.4. What other programs were launched by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) apart from Blue Flag Certification?

The other programs launched by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) are as follows:

• Green Key
• Young Reporters for the Environment
• Eco-Schools
• Learning about Forests
• Global Forest Fund