As I watched a video about Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs), I sat back and wondered about myself. How am I contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. As a future educator, and biologist/scientist, I feel like there is a very large portion of these goals I really should be involved in. This idea of not leaving anyone behind is something every educator should be concerned with. Speaking about a grand idea that involves everyone in a global setting, comes with taking care of our Earth as well. Goal 14 of the SGD is called Life Below Water, and in my opinion one of the most important goals in securing the future of the world.
Life Below Water has a few target areas, including reducing oceanic acidification, preventing and reducing marine pollution, managing and protecting marine ecosystems, and regulating fishing practices to a more sustainable level. The Life Below Water goal may not be something that we think about in our everyday life, but it is more common in our everyday than we know. How? A quick research into the topic will show that 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans is absorbed by our oceans, which provides a great buffer to combat climate change. Sadly, 40% of our oceans are greatly affected by pollution, marine degradation, depleted fisheries or coastal habitat loss. Our oceans cover 99% of the living space on Earth by volume, and are estimated to have over a million different animal species living in them. This video explains how chemistry, temperature, marine life and tides are all one of the most important things to sustain humankind.
As the importance of keeping our oceans clean comes more into the limelight with movements like the SGDs, it is important that we look back and reflect on ourselves and how we can make a change. According to the Oceanic Society some of the ways we can reduce oceanic pollution include:
- Reduce the use of single use plastic.
- Recycle properly.
- Participate in a beach or river cleanup.
- Support Bans.
- Avoid products containing microbeads.
- Spread the Word
- Support organizations addressing plastic pollution.
After all, the SGDs are not about other people, they are about ourselves. If everyone had this view of being apart of the SGDs, so much would be accomplished. Reading up on the SGDs really gave me a chance to take a look at myself and evaluate if I am doing all I can do, even if it means cutting out a few plastic bottles in my life.
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- https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-14-life-below-water.html
- https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/
- https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030-goal14.html
- https://www.oceanicsociety.org/blog/1720/7-ways-to-reduce-ocean-plastic-pollution-today