Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14)—Life Below Water—calls for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources. Covering more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, oceans are essential to life, regulating the climate, absorbing carbon dioxide, and supporting the livelihoods of over 3 billion people (UN, 2022).
The Crisis Beneath the Surface
Despite their importance, oceans are under growing pressure. Overfishing, habitat destruction, plastic pollution, and ocean acidification threaten marine ecosystems and coastal economies alike. An estimated 35% of global fish stocks are overfished, and 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans every year (FAO, 2022; UNEP, 2021).
Toward Sustainable Seas
Achieving SDG 14 requires stronger marine governance, expanded marine protected areas, reduction of land-based pollution, and investment in sustainable fishing and aquaculture. Ocean health is global—and its restoration must be as well.
SHARE