Sustainable Development Goal 14 - Life Below Water - Tracey Rogers

Summary

The video script by Professor Tracey Rogers from UNSW addresses the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 14, highlighting the dire state of marine life due to pollution, climate change, and overfishing. It emphasizes the alarming rate of plastic waste entering oceans, the threat to marine species, and the urgent need for sustainable practices like reducing single-use plastics, promoting recycling, and choosing seafood with Marine Stewardship Certification. The script calls for collective action to conserve and sustainably use our oceans, emphasizing their importance to biodiversity and human society.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The UN's Sustainable Development Goal 14 focuses on conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine resources.
• 😨 Marine species, habitats, and ecosystems have experienced catastrophic declines, with climate change exacerbating these issues.
• 🌐 A significant portion of the coastal ocean is affected by pollution, decay, and oxygen depletion.
• 🔥 Ocean warming is threatening marine life, with many species at risk of extinction.
• 👩‍🏫 Tracey Rogers, a Professor of Ecology, highlights the urgency of reducing marine pollution.
• 🚮 Approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, equivalent to 16 shopping bags per meter of coastline.
• 📈 The rate of plastic pollution in oceans is increasing, with predictions for 2025 indicating a significant rise.
• 🐢 Many marine animals, including turtles, seals, fish, and whales, mistake plastic for food, leading to entanglement or ingestion.
• 📊 At least 690 marine species have been documented to encounter plastic debris, with 17% being vulnerable or endangered.
• 🌍 The source of marine plastic is global, with darker colors on the map indicating more mismanaged plastic.
• 🛍️ Reducing single-use plastics, such as plastic bags and water bottles, is a simple and effective way to combat marine pollution.
• 🚰 Bottled water consumption is excessive, and using reusable bottles can significantly reduce plastic waste.
• 🔄 Only about 40% of plastic bottles are recycled, with the rest potentially ending up in landfills or waterways.
• 🦈 Sustainable fishing practices are crucial, with overfishing affecting at least one third of fish stocks.
• 🏷️ Look for Marine Stewardship Certification (MSC) labels when purchasing seafood to ensure it comes from sustainable sources.
• 🌱 Achieving SDG 14 is possible, but it requires rebuilding marine life and recognizing the importance of marine ecosystems to society.

Q & A

What is the primary aim of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14?

The primary aim of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.

What are some of the major threats to marine life mentioned in the script?

Major threats to marine life mentioned include catastrophic declines in species, habitats, and ecosystems, the impact of climate change on ocean productivity and biodiversity, pollution, putrefaction, and oxygen depletion in coastal oceans, and the stress caused by ocean warming leading to the threat of extinction for many marine species.

How much plastic enters the oceans annually, and what does this equate to per meter of coastline?

Around 8 million metric tons of plastic enters the oceans each year, which is equivalent to 16 shopping bags full of plastic for every meter of coastline, excluding Antarctica.

What is the predicted increase in plastic waste in the ocean by 2025?

By 2025, it is predicted that we will be putting enough plastic in the ocean each year to cover 5% of the Earth's entire surface in cling wrap.

Which marine animals are particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution, and what percentage of them are at risk?

Seabirds such as albatross, gannets, shearwaters, and petrels are particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution. At least 17% of the marine species that have encountered plastic are vulnerable, listed as either near threatened, endangered, or critically endangered.

What is the significance of the color in the figure representing mismanaged plastic by country?

The darker the color in the figure, the more mismanaged plastic that country has, indicating a higher likelihood that their plastic will end up in the ocean.

What is the Great Pacific garbage patch, and are there similar formations in other oceans?

The Great Pacific garbage patch is a large accumulation of plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean. Similar garbage patches exist in each of the Earth's ocean basins.

How can individuals reduce their use of single-use plastics in their weekly shop?

Individuals can reduce their use of single-use plastics by replacing plastic bags with reusable bags, using their own reusable water bottles instead of buying bottled water, and being mindful of other single-use plastic packaging for groceries.

What percentage of plastic bottles are recycled, and what happens to the rest?

Only about 40% of plastic bottles are recycled. The rest end up in landfills or waterways, and discarded bottles take at least 1000 years to biodegrade, breaking down into microplastics.

What is ocean acidification, and how does it affect marine life?

Ocean acidification occurs when excess carbon dioxide from human activities dissolves into seawater, forming carbonic acid. This makes it difficult for marine creatures that use calcium carbonate to form their shells and skeletons, potentially disrupting the oceanic food web.

What is the impact of overfishing on fish stocks and marine habitats, and how can consumers contribute to sustainable fishing practices?

Overfishing has led to at least one third of fish stocks being overfished, and the loss of one third to half of vulnerable marine habitats. Consumers can contribute to sustainable fishing by choosing locally caught fish, checking labels for sustainable fishing practices, and looking for the Marine Stewardship Certification (MSC) tick on seafood products.

Why is it important to focus on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14, and what does it entail?

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14 is important because it involves conserving and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine ecosystems, which are vital life support systems. It requires rebuilding marine life populations, habitats, and ecosystems to ensure the continued delivery of benefits society receives from healthy oceans.