Sustainable Development Goal: Living Under Water

The UN Sustainable Development Goals cover as many as 17 themes related to, among others, equality, education and ecology. Goal 14 addresses the protection of marine ecosystems, the sustainable use of the oceans and the reduction of marine pollution. It is also the protection of marine resources. The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals depends on the educational programs and policies implemented; both international and local.

Goals of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) - Objective 14 is a focus on:

• acidification of the oceans
• sustainable use of resources
• sustainable fishing
• Exploitation of marine resources
• sustainable management of ecosystems
• sustainable fisheries management
• pollution of the seas
• environmental protection
• protection of life
• Promoting sustainable consumption

Effective implementation of the goal requires systematic measurements and studies, the results of which allow us to estimate whether the proposed plan is closer than further to the version established for 2030. The themes of the Sustainable Development Goals overlap in many moments and often relate to a global idea that combines many socio-economic aspects. The key objectives of the SDGs are a cyclical series of our articles, which you can read here: https://jobsdoor.eu/pl/aktualnosci

What are the goals of Goal 14 set out in the 2030 Agenda?

It is said that the lungs of the earth are forests, the Amazon forest, the tropics - and these are of course extremely valuable areas that should be protected, but we rarely think about the fact that after all, the Earth is mostly water, and this is crucial in regulating temperature, maintaining the ecosystem and cleaning the air. The seas and oceans, unfortunately, are increasingly polluted, especially at the shore, causing the extinction of the animal species that inhabit them and resulting in serious consequences for life on land - including for us humans.

Therefore, Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources. It presupposes the prevention and significant reduction of all types of marine pollution, particularly land-based pollution, including waste and food waste, and the effective management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems in a way that ensures their resilience and productivity. It also aims to minimise the effects of ocean acidification through enhanced scientific cooperation, as well as to regulate fishing, eliminate overfishing and illegal fishing, and implement science-based fish population recovery plans. What is the next important goal? Protect at least 10% of coasts and marine areas, eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies and increase economic benefits for developing countries, particularly small islands and least developed countries, through sustainable management of marine resources, aquaculture and tourism. The objective also includes the development of marine science, research and technology transfer, the provision of access to markets and resources for local fishermen, and the implementation of international law, consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Rio+20 guidelines, to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources.

Protecting the oceans

The oceans cover almost 71% of our planet and are one of the fundamental components of the Earth's hydrosphere. Their total area is 361 million square kilometers and the total volume exceeds 1370 million cubic kilometers. Their environment is extremely mysterious to scientists and at the same time extremely important to all people, as more than three billion people rely on marine and coastal biodiversity to stay alive. Oceans also play a key role in the economy; on a global scale, the annual market value of marine and coastal resources and industrial production is estimated at $3 trillion, or about 5% of global GDP. When it comes to ecology and air quality, and therefore quality of life, the oceans play an absolutely crucial role, since they are responsible for half of the oxygen content in our air. What reduces its “production” is, of course, the excessive emission of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. The ocean also plays a key role in the cycles: carbon, food, water, energy exchange between regions of the world (via ocean currents) that are vital to us. It is essential for our survival on Earth. Currently, marine ecosystems are increasingly degraded, causing water and air quality to deteriorate. Why is this happening? The fisheries sector assumes a further increase in the scale of fishing, while the governments of the largest countries plan to develop energy production based on fossil fuels, which entails an increase in CO₂ emissions. Agriculture seeks to intensify activities, which is associated with a greater use of chemicals that favor the formation of anaerobic zones. Forecasts for the global economy predict the further development of international trade and, accordingly, the growth of maritime transport. In turn, the fuel companies plan to increase the extraction of liquid fuels by conducting deeper and deeper ocean wells and exploiting deposits in regions of the Arctic, where the risk of environmental pollution increases with the depth of the wells and the drop in temperatures. All this means that sustainability and the state of water and air do not improve and move away from the SDGs.

Sustainable use of resources

In order to protect the oceans and seas, sustainable consumption must be promoted and respected by law. Sustainable use of resources means, in this context, the conservation of species, restrictions on fishing, the elimination of illegal fishing, investment in science and research to monitor the state of the waters and the care of biodiversity in the seas and oceans. Preventing water pollution with chemicals and limiting the extraction of liquid fuels through deep ocean wells is also a key issue. The promotion of sustainable development should therefore not only be based on education, but also on real sanctions and penalties for companies that do not comply with the principles of safe use of resources. The goal, after all, is the life of people all over the planet.

Partnership for Goals

We can consider as a certain success in the negotiations between the UN and the Member States the completion of the Treaty on the Conservation of Ocean Biodiversity, which allows the creation and management of protected areas in international waters. The deal could help fight climate change, biodiversity loss and ocean pollution. However, whether the treaty and its provision will be reflected in reality will depend on the ratification process (its pace) and the implementation by States of these provisions. The initiator of the agreement was the so-called High Ambition Coalition, which includes among others. EU, USA, UK and China. Its creation was initiated by the European Union during the One Ocean Summit in Brest last February. The 51-member coalition sought to reach an inclusive, fair and sustainable agreement as soon as possible. Its actions confirmed the EU's leading role in climate policy and became an element of cooperation with China, which previously, like Russia, had long blocked international initiatives to protect ocean biodiversity (among others. advocating consensual rather than majority decision-making and pointing out possible conflicts with existing regulations, e.g. concerning the Arctic). After years of informal talks and six years of formal negotiations, the Coalition led to the signing of the agreement by all 193 UN member states on March 4, 2023.

summary

Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda focuses on the protection of the oceans and the sustainable use of their resources, which is crucial for biodiversity and global climate balance. Achieving this goal requires the reduction of pollution, the regulation of fishing, the development of scientific research and the implementation of international agreements to protect marine ecosystems. Success depends on cooperation between countries, effective legislation and the promotion of sustainable consumption and production worldwide.

Sources

1. https://www.pism.pl/publikacje/sukces-negocjacji-traktatu-w-sprawie-ochrony-bioroznorodnosci-oceanow
2. https://www.woda.edu.pl/artykuly/ocean/
3. https://www.un.org.pl/cel14
4. https://obserwatorgospodarczy.pl/2023/02/24/9-na-10-krajow-najbardziej-zanieczyszczajacych-oceany-znajduje-sie-w-azji/