Blue economy tourism potentials still untapped
There should be adequate amusement facilities for foreign tourists in beach towns so that the tourism sector can make a significant contribution to the blue economy, said experts and stakeholders at an event on Sunday. "Why would tourist-packed cruise ships anchor in the coastal belt or on the beaches? What will they do then? Are there any recreational arrangements we have for them," Rear Admiral (Retd) Khurshed Alam, secretary at the Maritime Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, raised the questions while building on his arguments for the amusement facilities. "We have 75 islands, but we could not utilise those yet in a planned way to attract the foreign tourists," he told the event titled "Role of Tourism Sector in Blue Economy of Bangladesh". He urged the authorities to facilitate private entrepreneurs so that they come forward with cruise vessels that will bring in foreign travellers. Discussants told the programme that Bangladesh is yet to utilise the full potentials of a blue economy, especially from tourism aspects, despite being awarded an additional 19,467 square kilometres of maritime area in 2014. "Many tourists want to see fishing in the sea, which is very common in the Maldives. If we can introduce such arrangements here in the Bay of Bengal, foreigners will also come to Bangladesh," said Prof Nurul Islam Nazem, deputy team leader of a tourism masterplan by the government. He mentioned they are focusing on beach tourism and cruise ship tourism. As the chief guest, State Minister for Tourism Mahbub Ali said they will take initiatives so that private investors can operate cruise ships without facing any bureaucratic tangle. There are different development projects, including three special tourism parks in Cox's Bazar, being implemented to improve the country's tourism sector, according to the tourism ministry.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
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.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
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.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
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.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
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.