The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive global systems that make the Earth fit for human habitation. How we manage this important resource is vital for humanity as a whole, and to counter the effects of climate change.
Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their incomes. However, today we are seeing 30 percent of the world’s fish stocks overexploited, reaching below the level at which they can produce sustainable yields.
Oceans also absorb about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, and we are seeing a 26 percent rise in ocean acidification since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Marine pollution, an devastating majority of which comes from land-based sources, is reaching distressing levels, with an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic litter to be found on every square kilometre of ocean.
The SDGs aim to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution, as well as address the impacts of ocean acidification. Enhancing conservation and the sustainable use of ocean-based resources through international law will also help mitigate some of the challenges facing our oceans. What can you do to help life below water around the world?