Forum on Marine Science and Technology Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 concludes

The Forum on Marine Science and Technology Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 successfully concluded in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province, last Sunday.

The forum, running from August 23 to 25, was jointly organized by Hainan University, the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and the University of Macau, aiming to promote research on blue carbon and coastal wetland and sustainable development of coastal communities, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. 

Officials from UNESCO, UNEP, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the British Embassy in China, and experts and scholars from 21 countries and regions attended the forum.

Luo Qingming, president of Hainan University and Chinese Academy of Sciences member, warmly welcomed the guests at the opening ceremony and emphasized the important position of Hainan as a base for marine science and technology innovation. He pointed out that this forum is a crucial step in promoting marine science and technology to serve global sustainable development. 

Professor Shahbaz Khan, director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, stated that UNESCO will continue to support the cooperation between Hainan University and international partners in the field of marine science and jointly promote the goals under the "Decade of Science" framework. 

The British Embassy's Science and Technology Counselor, Vanda Green, highlighted the important contribution of Sino-British cooperation in marine science and technology to global ocean conservation and sustainable development and expressed her expectation for Hainan University to play a key role.

During the forum, a Sino-British dialogue on "Addressing Climate and Human Challenges: The Future of Coastal Wetlands" was held. Scholars presented insights on the current state and challenges of marine plants and seagrass beds.

Additionally, international experts, researchers and entrepreneurs discussed topics such as marine open science, blue carbon assessment, coastal wetland conservation and the application of artificial intelligence for marine ecosystem restoration.

(Cover image via CGTN)