WIN TIMES OCTOBER 2020_52
GOALS FOR LIFE
NEW COLUMN ALERT!!
SDG 14: Safeguarding the Elixir of Life Mishal Faraz, Year 9B, and Mir Faraz, Year 6H
We’re sure many of you have heard of something called the Sustainable Development Goals. But what exactly are they? The UN Sustainable Development Goals, or SGDs, are a collection of 17 goals that were set and adopted by all UN Member States in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which set out a 15-year plan to achieve the goals. The SDGs are the blueprint for a sustainable future, addressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, poverty, and peace.
One of the goals is Goal No. 14, Life Below Water. SDG 14 aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. The ocean is practically responsible for making Earth habitable. Everything from our food and water to the climate and the oxygen we breathe are ultimately provided and regulated by the sea. The ocean is also the world’s largest and most diverse ecosystem, home to nearly one million different species. However, despite the critical importance of conserving oceans, decades of irresponsible exploitation have led to an alarming level of degradation. Protecting the ocean must be a top priority. Marine biodiversity and the health of the ocean are tied to the health of the people and planet, so action needs to be taken to reduce overfishing, marine pollution, and ocean acidification.
