Oceans cover 72% of the surface of our planet. Oceans and seas support all life on the planet by generating oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, recycling nutrients, and controlling the global temperature.
Oceans and seas provide food and livelihoods to a substantial portion of the global population; nearly 3 billion people worldwide receive 20% of their daily animal protein intake from fish, while employment in fisheries and aquaculture provide about 55 million jobs. It is also a means of transportation for 80% of global trade.
The marine and coastal environment also constitutes a key resource for the important global tourism industry. About 32% of the global supply of hydrocarbons, which is a prime source of energy, is obtained from the seabed.
In general, marine eco-systems and resources play a key role in supporting food security, sustainable livelihoods, economic opportunity, and social inclusion for billions of people.
In fact, it is believed that if the oceans, seas, and marine resources are managed in a sustainable manner, then this has the potential to eradicate poverty, especially in coastal developing countries.
However, human activities leading to exploitation and pollution of oceans and marine resources may limit this opportunity.
In light of this, the concept of a blue economy was established at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, which conceptualised “oceans and seas as development spaces where spatial planning integrates conservation, sustainable use of living resources, oil and mineral wealth extraction, bio-prospecting, sustainable energy production, and marine transport.”
Realising that, as a coastal country, with access to a huge amount of sea space, our country can utilise the blue economy concept for sustainable, clean, and equitable blue growth in both traditional and emerging sectors. The current government has set goals to integrate the blue economy for sustainable development.
In this context, the Bangladeshi consulate in Thailand last month had organised a high-level panel discussion on the sidelines of the Ministerial Segment of the 71st Session of the UN ESCAP at the UN Office in Bangkok titled “Blue Economy for Sustainable Use of Marine Resources and Inclusive Growth” to share best practices and foster greater co-operation on blue economy.
Heads of governments and ministries from Indonesia, Philippines, India, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Fiji, Bhutan, and the Russian Federation and the executive secretary of UN ESCAP and the Asia regional director from IUCN shared their experience. Foreign Secretary HE Md Shahidul Haque and the state minister for the Ministries of Finance and Planning, HE MA Mannan from Bangladesh gave the thematic presentation and closing remarks.
The foreign secretary in his presentation made it clear that integrating the blue economy is one of the priorities of the government as it can help eradicate poverty and bring in economic prosperity to the country.
A major outcome from the session was that all of the countries realised the importance of the blue economy for sustainable development and have shown keen interest in implementing necessary policies, legislations, and infrastructure to integrate a blue economy, but the panelists also agreed that much more knowledge, capacity, and co-operation are needed by the international community to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
I would like to thank the Bangladeshi consulate for organising the panel discussion on blue economy as it has helped us to realise the importance of blue economy for sustainable development.
I firmly believe that under the fine leadership of the ambassador, HE Saida Muna Tasneem, the consulate will continue to organise discussions on such important topics in the future as well.
