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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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Carbon & Climate
‘We need solutions’: Southeast Asia’s climate risks sharpen case for ocean investment
As Southeast Asia’s climate risks intensify, The Liveability Challenge is backing ocean-based innovations to help close the region’s funding gap for climate resilience and emissions reduction.
Carbon & Climate
Rescuers race to protect orangutans from El Niño fires in Borneo
A strengthening El Niño threatens to fuel major fires across Indonesia’s peatlands and mineral soils during this year’s dry season.
A community of haenyeo, South Korea’s free-diving women fishers, accuses a harbour project in their village of devastating the local marine habitat they’ve depended on for decades for their livelihoods.
The Philippines’ new critical-minerals policy targets at least 9 million hectares (22 million acres) of prospective mineral areas, more than 11 times the land currently covered by approved mining projects, according to an environmental legal group.
Policy & Finance
Cambodia cracks down on social media wildlife trade, but gaps remain
Carbon & Climate
Coal pollution grips coastal Bangladesh as safeguards fail
Opinion
The downlisting of recovering species can put conservation gains at risk when funding systems shift resources to species facing higher extinction risks.
Carbon & Climate
Marine protection must serve China’s communities too
China is progressing towards the 30x30 target but concerns over livelihoods are hampering progress.
More than 1,500 vessels stranded by the Strait of Hormuz blockade risk spreading invasive marine species when they resume voyages, posing a wider biosecurity threat.
Workers’ suffering is an integral part of the fisheries system, say four experts.
Policy & Finance
How (not) to conserve tropical forests
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
Corporate Responsibility
Refill fountains may not be effective at reducing waste: L’Occitane Asia sustainability chief Venisa Chu
The Asia Pacific ESG head of the B Corp-certified cosmetics firm says refill stations have been disappointing and getting suppliers on board with decarbonisation is difficult, but her team has not been affected by the ESG backlash.
In the first of a podcast series featuring Southeast Asia's clean energy entrepreneurs, the CEO of Gurin Energy says that Asean countries will be left behind in artificial intelligence and robotics if the region does not connect its grid and deploy renewables at speed and scale.
The head of waste management non-profit Ocean Recovery Alliance tells the EB Podcast that recycled content mandates will drive the circular economy better than caps on virgin plastic production. Brands should be pressured more than petrochemical producers to phase out unnecessary plastics, he says.
Speaking from the INC-5.2 talks in Geneva, the Singapore Youth for Climate Action president argues that having no treaty is better than a watered-down pact with no limits on plastic production. But there is no explicit Asean-wide support for such caps now, she observes.
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