14. Life below water
The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind. Our rainwater, drinking water, weather, climate, coastlines, much of our food, and even the oxygen in the air we breathe, are all ultimately provided and regulated by the sea. Throughout history, oceans and seas have been vital conduits for trade and transportation. Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future.
Read our stories to learn more about SDG Goal 14: Life below water
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Adopt this goalNews
Water tests from the Kok and Sai rivers near Thailand’s border with Myanmar have revealed elevated arsenic levels, leading Thai officials to warn citizens to avoid contact with river water.
A new law paving the way for the promotion of natural gas has been labelled an “insult” by climate campaigners.
Governments are meeting in France to discuss how to protect oceans from harmful fishing practices, like bottom trawling.
Carbon & Climate
One year on: Impacts of a landmark legal opinion on climate change
An international court’s opinion that greenhouse gases are an ocean pollutant is already being used in the fight against climate change.
Opinion
Addressing the global crisis of maritime plastic pollution will require mobilising investment and support to reduce the production of single-use plastics, increasing the lifespan of plastic objects and promoting reuse and reparability.
Policy & Finance
How to defuse the climate-debt time bomb for small island states
We need innovative solutions to allow small island nations to manage debt and build climate resilience as global funding declines.
Policy & Finance
Indigenous forest peoples can finally control nature finance
At COP30, Brazil will launch the Tropical Forest Forever Facility to fund communities on the frontlines of the nature crisis.
Policy & Finance
The business case for a sustainable blue economy
Unlocking the full potential of the sustainable ocean economy will require bold investments, policy reform and coordinated action to bridge the growing blue finance gap.
Policy & Finance
Shake it up, don’t shoot it down: the case for reforming US aid
Carbon & Climate
Nature needs its own ID
Policy & Finance
It’s time for a UN ‘universal declaration on nature’
Videos
The vessel will scour Southeast Asia’s marine environment to gather data and support local conservationists.
Exclusive
Jack Johnson says yes, but it is a long road ahead. In this exclusive interview, we ask the American singer-songwriter and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador about his hopes for the state of the world and how music plays a role in providing a dose of optimism in dark times.
Launched as policymakers lock horns with petrochemicals lobbyists over a treaty to end plastic pollution, the documentary produced by Eco-Business asks why opportunities to solve humanity's waste crisis are being wasted. It will premiere in Singapore and screen on the sidelines of the upcoming COP28 climate summit.
Do children ask the toughest questions? This World Oceans Day, we get renowned oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle, founder of Mission Blue, to field questions from curious kids on the mysteries of the deep.
Podcasts
Carbon & Climate
America’s attack on climate science could affect adaptation capacity in Asia: climate scientist Ben Horton
The sea-level rise expert has moved to Hong Kong – now seen as a gateway to more collaboration with China on climate science. But he tells the EB Podcast that data from US agencies is still critical for calculating climate defences in Asia.
The chief executive of World Resources Institute also told the Eco-Business Podcast that the gutting of USAID is less of a concern than how to unlock private capital for climate and nature in developing countries.
EB Studio
Plastic waste is flooding the planet. Instead of waiting for regulation to drive change, give value to recyclables and mobilise the people, says Plastic Bank.
Goumbook launched a regional oceans network that brought discussions on the blue economy to the forefront at the last COP summit. Founder Tatiana Abella tells the Eco-Business Podcast why healthy oceans are important for the Middle East.
