GOALS FOR LIFE

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.

To help mitigate the effect of climate change, the ocean absorbs approximately 23% of annual carbon dioxide emissions, as well as more than 90% of all excess heat in the atmosphere. Consequentially, ocean heat levels are rising at an alarming rate, causing marine heatwaves, which are threatening the ocean’s ecosystems and killing coral reefs all around the world.

Furthermore, another problem is increasing levels of debris in the ocean. An estimated 5 to 12 million metric tonnes of plastic enters the ocean every year, costing roughly $13 billion per year – including clean-up costs and financial losses in fisheries and other industries. About 89% of plastic litter found on the ocean floor are single-use items like plastic bags.

Also, 80% of all tourism takes place in coastal areas, with the oceanrelated tourism industry making at least $134 billion every single year, and a third of the labour force being supported by it in some countries. And if not carefully managed, this tourism can threaten the ocean in a major way.

Facts and Figures

• Three quarters of the Earth is covered by water, but less only 3% is freshwater, and less than 1% is actually accessible to humans, with the other 2% being trapped in glaciers.

• If all the water in the world could fit into a 4-litre jug, the amount of freshwater accessible to us would only be about one tablespoon.

• Over 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihood.

• Marine fisheries provide 57 million jobs globally.

• The ocean represents 99% of the living space on the planet by volume.

• Around 80% of marine pollution originates on land.

• One million plastic bottles are purchased globally every minute.

• The world uses up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags every year.

• Approximately 680 million people live in low-lying coastal zones – a number expected to increase to one billion by 2050.

• 6800 gallons of water are required to grow a day’s food for a family of four.

• 780 million people lack access to an improved water source.

• Unsafe water kills 200 children every hour.

• In the developing world, 80% of all illnesses is waterrelated.

• 50% of water is lost because of leaks.

• It is estimated that by 2025, half the population will live in water-scarce countries.

We should not stop taking action to conserve the ocean while tackling the pandemic. According to UNESCO, the ocean can be a great ally in fighting COVID-19. Bacteria found in the ocean is used to carry out testing and detect the presence of COVID-19. Additionally, the wide diversity of species found in the ocean offers great potential and promise for pharmaceuticals.

The pandemic also offers the opportunity to revive the ocean. A report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific states that the drastic reduction in human activity brought by the pandemic may be a chance for the oceans to recuperate.

Goal 14 Targets

How You Can Help

There are many things that we can do at the individual level to do our part to protect the precious oceans. Firstly, make responsible, ocean-friendly choices, such as eliminating your plastic usage as much as possible. Use cloth bags instead of plastic bags, carry a reusable water bottle with you, and whenever you do use plastic, dispose of it responsibly in the recycling bin. You can also make a change by taking part in campaigns and beach clean-up drives. But the most helpful thing you can do is to spread the word and make people aware of how crucial marine life is and why we need to protect it. By doing your bit, you will inspire people to do the same, and likewise, they will inspire another few people, and will create a ripple effect throughout the whole world. When you think of just yourself recycling one plastic bottle, for instance, it may seem small and insignificant, but think of thousands and millions of people doing the same thing – the impact will be huge.

Having been dedicated environmentalists since the past 7 years, Mishal and Mir understand how individual efforts can lead to an impactful accumulative effect on the wellbeing of the planet. “Goals for Life” is a column dedicated to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which are actually a blueprint to a healthy and sustainable planet. Though a lot of information is available on various platforms about the SDGs, it is imperative that they are propagated through as many mediums as possible and given visibility and a voice that reaches far and wide. This column endeavours to elaborate on a different SDG every month and encourage all readers to be eco-warriors, passionate leaders, and changemakers.