| Fizah HAB |
HER Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman yesterday stressed on the importance of conserving the marine and coastal environment.
In a sabda delivered at the opening ceremony of the 14th International School Brunei (ISB) Borneo Global Issues Conference (BGIC) at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas yesterday, Her Royal Highness said that collaboration between the government, private sector and society is needed to achieve this goal.
“Oceans are crucial to the livelihoods of over three billion people living in coastal communities, representing some 40 per cent of the global population. We need to heed to scientific warnings on climate change and realise that the ocean regulates the global ecosystem by absorbing heat and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helps protect coastal areas from erosion and flooding. We should conserve and sustainably use the world’s oceans and marine resources.
“It is vital for governments, private sector and the society as a whole, particularly the young people, to keep in mind the simple truth that the oceans on earth and the life in them have no substitutes. Technical knowledge, force of will, perseverance and dedication have no substitutes, but they have their own limits. Hard, global problems need to be tackled together and supported by all the stakeholders involved.
“The same concern was stressed by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in a titah delivered at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014. His Majesty emphasised, ‘As reflected in Brunei Darussalam’s Vision 2035 development plan, our priority is to safeguard the welfare of our people. A key part of this plan includes ensuring a clean, green and healthy environment for every citizen’.
“In line with this titah, His Majesty’s Government has made concerted efforts to protect our maritime environment with initiatives like the establishment of Marine Protected Areas to conserve the coral reef ecosystem and fisheries resources and the opening of the Marine Biodiversity Centre to rehabilitate any marine life that are caught or discovered,” Her Royal Highness said, highlighting that Brunei is one of the first Asian countries to ban the sale and import of shark fin products.
“At the grassroots level, non-governmental agencies like the Beach Bunch and the Green Brunei are organising recycling and beach clean-up drives, while at the same time pushing for better environmental awareness.
“I believe that forums like ISB BGIC will encourage our bright young leaders to start taking early ownership of the issues that will affect them and their future, and more importantly, take ownership of these issues together. The United Nations-style conferences like ISB BGIC will hopefully encourage you to balance your conviction with empathy, your views with those of others and your passion with compassion,” Her Royal Highness said.
The ISB BGIC is an annual student-led model UN conference where participants represent various countries and share their views on current and real world issues among their peers.
The conference is an initiative aimed at the expanding students’ understanding of global citizenship and improving public speaking and negotiation skills.
Supported by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and carrying the theme ‘Life Under Water’, the three-day conference is attended by 300 delegates from 24 schools across the country.
At the conference, students warmed up to each other quickly as they discussed various issues with delegates from other countries to provide better solutions for the problems surrounding human development and sustainable use of the earth’s precious resources.