As described in my blog entry February 3rd, I am referring, on a weekly basis, to each of the SDGs: facts, targets, and how could companies be engaged. This week is about SDG#14 - Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources is the underlying goal of “Life below water”.
Facts:
Oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97% of the Earth’s water, and represent 99% of the living space on the planet by volume.
Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.
Globally, the market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at $3 trillion per year or about 5% of global GDP.
Oceans contain nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may lie in the millions.
Oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming.
Oceans serve as the world’s largest source of protein, with more than 3 billion people depending on the oceans as their primary source of protein
Marine fisheries directly or indirectly employ over 200 million people.
Open Ocean sites show current levels of acidity have increased by 26 per cent since the start of the Industrial Revolution.
Targets
There are 10 targets which details can be found here:
Companies engagement:
A number of examples can be mentioned, actions that companies could ccnsider to help achieve this key SDG:
Track the life cycle of products and materials in order to understand how they are disposed and which products could likely find their way into marine environments.
Improve resource efficiency by altering the design, manufacture, or use of products and packaging to reduce the amount of waste that could potentially enter the environment.
Replace, limit or prohibit the use of certain chemicals, additives, or materials that could prevent closing the loop or lead to nutrient pollution or chemical and physical hazards if they happen to reach marine ecosystems.
Prevent waste mismanagement or littering that could pollute the marine environment.
Raise consumer awareness on effective ways to properly dispose of their waste to discourage littering and promote responsible behavior.
Prohibit practices that put marine species and resources at further risk of harm, exploitation or depletion.
Contribute to the development of waste management technologies that minimize the use of clean water.