Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has urged the global community to strengthen partnerships and cross-sector collaboration to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 on oceans. She stressed that only collective action can safeguard marine resources for future generations.
The Environment Advisor made these remarks while addressing virtually from his residence in the capital the plenary session of the Ocean Decade Fifth Foundations Dialogue – High-Level Roundtable with Ambassadors, Experts, and Practitioners on “Driving Ocean Leadership and Innovation: Advancing Governance, Blue Economy, and Marine Science to Achieve 30×30”, held today at the International Conference Hall, Sasakawa Peace Foundation Building, Tokyo, Japan.
Rizwana Hasan cautioned about pressing environmental threats. Bangladesh, ranked ninth globally in plastic pollution due to transboundary inflows from upstream countries, continues to suffer from mismanaged waste. She called for special provisions in the ongoing global plastic treaty negotiations to address the vulnerabilities of geographically exposed countries like Bangladesh. She also highlighted the hazardous shipbreaking industry, describing the Hong Kong Convention as “grossly deficient” in regulating toxic ship dismantling practices that endanger Bangladesh’s coastal environment.
She underlined the Bay of Bengal’s critical role in Bangladesh’s economy, connectivity, and regional cooperation. She highlighted government initiatives such as the Assessment of Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Resources and Ecosystem project, which developed a national database, conservation management plan, and monitoring protocols in collaboration with leading universities. Research on sea-level rise and its sectoral impacts has also been completed, underscoring the urgency of protecting coastal communities.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s natural assets—she called for greater international cooperation in marine protection and biodiversity conservation. Rizwana Hasan also pointed to the untapped potential of Bangladesh’s seafood industry, inviting international investment in sustainable seafood processing facilities.
“The threat of sea-level rise is real. If not addressed, one-third of Bangladesh could go underwater, displacing millions in an already overpopulated nation. The same danger confronts 52 small island states worldwide. Global solidarity is imperative,” she warned.
Other distinguished speakers included Dr. Atsushi Sunami, President of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation; Kristin Iglum, Ambassador of Norway to Japan; Prof. Yutaka Michida, Chair, UNESCO-IOC; Dr. Saif AlGhais, Chair, IOCINDIO Sub-Commission; and Ilana V. Seid, Chair and Permanent Representative of Palau to the UN Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).