Because of its invaluable contribution to a more sustainable world, the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which are a set of 17 ambitious goals covering a variety of domains with goals to be achieved by 2030, incorporated “Life Below Water” as SDG 14. This goal comprises 10 targets and 10 indicators, which are the metrics used to identify our progress as a world on this goal’s targets. One main target, which will be the focus of this blog post primarily due to the fast deterioration observed by ecologists and marine scientists around the world, is target 14.5.

According to the United Nations’ official definitions for each of the SDGs, target 14.5 is defined as “By 2020, conserve at least 10 percent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information”. To measure the success of this target, indicator 14.5.1 has been generated as “coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas”. Unlike other indicators, this one is set to be achieved by 2020 instead of 2030 due to its pressing matter and the degree at which the world is at risk of losing or permanently damaging this resource.

While efforts to meet the requirement were seen in some countries, the world is not only still far from reaching the set goal but also overdue on it’s promised goal.