SDG 14: Life Below Water

The month of June is a perfect month to highlight SDG 14: Life below Water as we spotlight two important upcoming ecological dates: World Environment Day, June 5^th and Oceans Day, June 8th.

World Environment Day was established in 1972 at the UN General Assembly.  

The theme for 2023 World Environment Day is challenging: “Beat Plastic Pollution.” Why is it so challenging? Because plastic is used in every conceivable product; food, medicine, face soap, dish washing soap, toothpaste, clothing, etc. It is cheap and versatile.

Plastic is made from fossil fuels that we are trying desperately to reduce because it is limiting our reach for a 1.5 C. 

Plastic is an incredibly energy-intensive manufacturing process.

Plastic takes an extremely long time to decompose. It could take up to 500 years. Plastic composes up to 40% of our landfills. And as you know it is not biodegradable. All this plastic chokes the marine wildlife, damages soil and poisons our groundwater and ultimately impacts our health.

There is more than 100 million pounds of plastic in the ocean.

An approach to plastic would mean moving away from a linear plastic economy to a circular economy. For more resources on plastic click on any of the links below:

• https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/03/23/news/report-paints-starker-picture-plastic-waste-iceberg 
• https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1700782
• https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/everything-you-need-know-about-plastic-pollution
• https://www.unep.org/events/online-event/faiths-have-solution-beatplasticpollution-world-environment-day
• https://www.unep.org/interactives/beat-plastic-pollution/
• https://wedocs.unep.org/themes/UNEP- KR/vendor/pdfjs/web/viewer.html?file=/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/42437/Plastic_Pollution_WED23EN.pdf#pag e=5
• https://www.unep.org/resources/turning-off-tap-end-plastic-pollution-create-circular-economy
• https://www.unep.org/events/online-event/faiths-have-solution-beatplasticpollution-world-environment-day 

World Ocean’s Day June 8^th. In June 2022, the World Ocean Conference was celebrated in Portugal. SDG 14 entitled Life Below Water addresses the sustainably of our oceans, seas and marine resources. The Oceans are our planet’s life support and regulate global climate systems. The Oceans are the world’s largest ecosystem, home to nearly a million known species and containing vast untapped potential for scientific discovery.

Our oceans absorb around 23% of annual CO2 emissions generated by human activity and helps mitigate the impacts of climate change. The ocean also absorbs more than 90% of the excess heat in climate system.

Increasing debris in the oceans are having a major environmental and economic impact as well. 

It costs up $13 billion per year to clean up the oceans.

As highlighted in last month’s UN Update each SDG has targets to be addressed. SDG 14 has fourteen Goals and indicators.

Here are a few of the Goals: 

• 14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
• 14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
• 14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
• 14.A Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
• 14.B Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
• 14.C Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law.

To find out more about Goal #14 and other sustainable development goals visit:

http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment.

For a beautiful contemplative visual of the Oceans please view the highlighted link. https://youtu.be/Q4W5HultwHw