The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is ramping up its environmental protection efforts in response to growing climate change threats. The multilateral organisation, which includes countries surrounding the Bay of Bengal, is placing increased emphasis on preserving the region’s unique ecological heritage while sustainably developing its blue economy.

Recent reports highlight the urgent challenges facing BIMSTEC nations, including sea-level rise, groundwater salinisation, and food insecurity. The region is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events, with BIMSTEC countries accounting for 80 per cent of global cyclone-related fatalities. Additionally, the destabilisation of over 40 crucial glacial lakes poses a significant risk of flooding to countries like India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

In response, BIMSTEC has initiated several programs to address these environmental concerns. In 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) established the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate (BCWC). This centre promotes scientific capacity building in weather and climate research and assists in publications in line with the BIMSTEC cooperation on food insecurity in the region. Additionally, significant sea-level rise would erode and destroy coral reefs in the Bay of Bengal and cause significant displacement of people living in coastal areas.

Environmental experts recommend that BIMSTEC strengthen collaboration to develop a regional action framework for cooperation and coordination on environmental and climate change among BIMSTEC member states. The report also highlighted a need for an action plan for the mountain economy. This should include best practices in environmental protection and biodiversity management. The report also emphasised developing knowledge databases and research centres on glacial lakes to assess damage and reduce the negative effects of GLOFs.

Disaster management monitoring centres should be established across the region for comprehensive monitoring of weather conditions and the sharing of information. This will help increase preparedness for cyclones and contribute to developing health and transport corridors in cyclone-prone areas for medical evacuation. Collaboration on a multilateral survey of the biodiversity of BIMSTEC nations emphasising species and ecosystems at significant risk from climate change is critical to ensure that the vibrant Bay of Bengal ecosystem is sustained.

The report also suggested that business participation in environmental issues should be encouraged through green business practices, green product use and green buildings. Business sustainability can be promoted through common and mutually recognised ESG norms, expansion of existing platforms for business initiatives, and governmental support for MSME.

As BIMSTEC continues to evolve its environmental strategy, the organisation aims to balance economic development with ecological preservation, recognising the critical importance of the Bay of Bengal ecosystem to the region’s future.