Page 142 - Connecting cities and communities with the Sustainable Development Goals
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United for Smart Sustainable Cities
                              Connecting cities and communities with the Sustainable Development Goals

            1       Introduction


            1.1     Background
            More than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans. These oceans are rich in biodiversity and also are
            a treasure trove of minerals. It has been estimated that phytoplankton in the oceans produce over half the
            oxygen that land animals, including humans, breathe. Therefore, these oceans along with forests serve as
                                                      46
            oxygen producers and reservoirs for the world . Millions of people also heavily depend on oceans for their
            livelihoods and engage in activities like fishing. Oceans also function as carbon sinks and can currently take
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            up about 25 % of annual anthropogenic carbon emissions released into the atmosphere.
            The significant increase in human activities impacting oceans over the past few decades has diminished their
            potential to compensate  for the increased emissions. Water bodies are now faced  with a number  of
            challenges including  the  endangering of  marine biodiversity, habitat destruction,  coral reef depletion,
            overfishing and pollution.

            In line with the above, the United Nations Member States adopted the new Sustainable Development Goal
                                         48
            (SDG) 14 on “Life below water” . Introduction of this goal is known to be a major turning point for marine
            conservation as it was distinctly brought to the global centre stage for the first time. Thus, incorporation of
            this goal has generated visibility and reaffirmed political commitment for the protection of the oceans.
            Following the adoption of SDG 14, humans are moving towards a more sustainable use of the oceans and
            significant progress has already being made in this regard.
            As with  the conservation and monitoring of biodiversity  on land, information and communication
            technologies (ICTs) can also assist in oceanic conservation and promote sustainability in this area. In this
            regard, satellite monitoring, sensors and wave instrumentation are known to have the ability to collect
            accurate data for oceans, which can then be used to analyse aquatic biodiversity and pollution and help to
            tackle problems like overfishing.

            1.2     Challenge and response

            It is important to recognize that as with most resources on Earth, biodiversity in the oceans is also finite. This
            implies that it is essential to identify and acknowledge oceanic boundaries and factor them into human
            activities.

            Humans continue to threaten the oceans through overfishing, conducting illegal fishing which in turn can
            affect foods chains and even cause habitat destruction. Maintaining marine sustainability heavily depends
            on the monitoring of fisheries and further actions taken by relevant international and national stakeholders
            along with the fishing industry.
            It was in response to the need for a monitoring system for aquatic life that the Global Fishing Watch platform
            was launched.


            2       The project


            2.1     Vision
            The Global Fishing Watch platform was launched by Google, Oceana and Skytruth. This online technological
            platform allows anyone with an Internet connection to track and monitor commercial fishing activities in
            near-real time.

            46  Sustainable Use of Our Oceans –Making Ideas Work, 2015.
            47  The ocean carbon sink – impacts, vulnerabilities and challenges. Earth System Dynamics, June 2015.

            48  “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.

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