Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has called for taking decisive and collective actions to ensure the planet's longevity.
"We must protect, preserve and promote our oceans and ecosystems to save the planet," he said speaking at the seventh "Our Ocean Conference" at Koror in Palau, reports BSS citing a foreign ministry press release.
Bangladesh's foreign minister said the ocean's ability to provide crucial ecosystem services is being reduced due to climate change, marine pollution, unsustainable extraction of marine resources and physical alterations and destruction of aquatic and coastal habitats and landscapes.
"Oceans, seas and marine resources are being increasingly threatened, degraded and destroyed by human activities," he observed.
Momen said, to achieve SDG 14, Bangladesh, under the guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, announced five new commitments, including a National Plan of Action to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and demark a new Marine Protected Area in Saint Martin's Island.
The other three commitments are to take actions aimed at ensuring safe ship recycling by 2023, formulating Solid Waste Management Rules 2021 and harnessing marine resources sustainably under Blue Economy for inclusive development.
"We must not be afraid of setting a new trajectory for the development of our oceans and seas for a better life," Momen said.
The Republic of Palau and the United States co-hosted the two-day 7th Our Ocean Conference from April 13 to 14 where the US Presidential Special Envoy for Climate Senator John F. Kerry joined, among other dignitaries.
Bangladesh's foreign minister attended the conference at the invitation of John Kerry.
