Despite several initiatives to tap into the blue economy, lack of authentic secondary data and overfishing mean that none of the plans have seen light, speakers said at a virtual webinar on Thursday. Emphasising on the need for sustainable fishing management, speakers at the webinar titled "Blue economy: Realising the potential of marine fishing sector", also said Bangladesh needs a marine special plan and proper research survey vessel to boost the blue economy. At the event organised by Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), chief guest Planning Minister MA Mannan said the potential of the blue economy in Bangladesh remained underutilised because of lack of technical and financial support. Stressing on the need for technological support by the ministry concerned and investors, Mannan said for the sector to flourish, the focus should be on investment and to help investors with data so they can get a return. The blue economy is not only for fish or mineral resources, but it is related to all ocean-based industries and it can change the economic picture of Bangladesh. For this, proper planning and execution is needed, he added. In a PowerPoint presentation, it was said that Bangladesh had sovereign rights over almost 118,813sq kilometres in the Bay of Bengal. Marine fishing comprised 15% of national fishing production. For the industrial side, there were 37 shrimp trawlers and 218 fish trawlers. Furthermore, there were 32,859 mechanised boats, 34,810 non-mechanised boats. Of the total 6.71 lakh metric tonnes of marine catch, 17% came from industrial fishing and 83% were artisanal. The fisheries sector contributed 3.50% to the national gross domestic product. The programme, presided over by Mahbubul Alam, president of CCCI, was also addressed by KH Mahbubul Hoque, additional director general and project director, Sustainable Coastal & Marine Fisheries Project, Department of Fisheries.
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.