Blue economy and climate change: Bangladesh perspective

Blue Economy is related to economic growth through the sustainable utilization of ocean resources with technological inputs to improve livelihoods. Economically important coastal and marine resources are the main components of the Blue Economy for Bangladesh. These resources are categorized into living, nonliving, renewable resources and trade and commerce. As Bangladesh is vulnerable to climate change, related extreme events are making the coastal and marine resources vulnerable which may hamper the smooth Blue Economy development in Bangladesh. Climate change extreme events include warming trend, cyclone, sea level rise, droughts, erosion, tidal surge, saline water intrusion, flood, change in precipitation trend and ocean acidification. These extreme events may cause coral belching, species migration, biodiversity loss, altered species life style, disruption in marine food chain and ultimately will affect the national economy. Thus, it is a prime need to build marine ecosystem’s resilience to climate change to get the maximum benefits from ocean. This background paper offers a strategic framework for climate change resilient Blue Economy practice in Bangladesh. This framework is a four steps process (i.e. identification of issues, focus on important areas for climate change resilient Blue Economy development, performing activities for achieving the goal and achievement of goal). Special focus is required on energy efficiency, marine and coastal biodiversity, ecosystem based adaptation, environmental resilience building in the coastal areas, ecosystem restoration, building economic resilience and policy formulation for climate change resilient Blue Economy development. Mangrove plantation, oyster reef building, mussel bed, sea grass bed, salt marsh bed and coral reef conservation, use of renewable energy, special interventions in fisheries and development of islands, crop insurance, salt tolerant and floating agriculture, eco-tourism development, MPA and ecologically critical area declaration, marine spatial planning, policy formulation, institutional integration and continuous ocean monitoring are example of some possible interventions required for climate resilient Blue Economy development in Bangladesh.