Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said the world need to work together to contain plastic contamination. We have an opportunity to push together for an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty. We need to work together on Biodiversity conservation and protection of traditional knowledge.
Environment Advisor said this in her speech in the Ministerial Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) organised in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan on 28 August 2024 Wednesday.
Environment Advisor said equally crucial is to value shared waters and develop an equitable regime for protection and utilization. In addressing all these challenges, there is an abundance of technology, innovation and human capital that we must tap into and share to the benefit of our peoples.
Syeda Rizwana said the world need to work together on shared resources, the common utilities such as our shared rivers and forests. We also need to address our common concerns such as air pollution. Advancing real time data collection and information sharing on best practices will help countries such as Bangladesh break free from the chokehold of air pollution.
Syeda Rizwana said by working together within the Ministerial Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA, let’s contribute towards the sustainable future of our region and ensure environmental and climate justice, for every woman and man across our villages and towns, for generations to come. Let us strive together to achieve a zero carbon future.
The CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues, held 28 August 2024 in Astana, concluded successfully, marking a pivotal moment in pan-Asian environmental cooperation. Proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the Sixth CICA Summit, the Conference brought together high-level officials from CICA Member States to address critical environmental challenges and concluded with the adoption of a high-level statement.
The event was inaugurated with welcoming remarks by the Chair Yerlan Nyssanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan. Minister Nyssanbayev noted that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to cooperation on the CICA platform and called for continuing the discussion on the institutionalization of the cooperation between Member States in the environmental theme by establishing the CICA Environmental Council, as proposed by the President Tokayev at the Sixth CICA Summit.
CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay highlighted that this conference marks a crucial milestone in addressing the urgent environmental issues confronting the continent. He noted that, despite the diverse ecosystems, climates, and cultures of the 28 CICA Member States, common environmental challenges require a unified and coordinated response.
The Ministerial Conference adopted by consensus a high-level statement that reflects 28 CICA Member States’ dedication to advancing collaboration, sharing best practices and addressing critical issues. The CICA Member States decided to strengthen water management through capacity building and technology exchange, tackle climate change in alignment with the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement and improve quality of life by focusing on climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation and pollution control. These commitments reaffirm the shared responsibility of the CICA Member States and their dedication to a sustainable future for the region. The Conference concluded with a unified commitment to enhancing regional cooperation on environmental challenges.