United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
All plans for marine life therefore fall under Goal 14. Since sharks are only one of hundreds of species of concerns, it is doubtful that much meaningful shark conservation will be developed in support of SDG, unless sustainable development will take into account the importance of biodiversity in the ocean, and the value of sharks to tourism. Traditionally, they fall under fisheries management plans, which has gotten us into the spot we are in now, with sharks being fished until someone can prove that they are being overfished.
HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE?
The latest report by the World Economic Forum: SDIS21: How to Save the Planet - What are the challenges in making the planet more sustainable?
Despite a brief moment when it seemed like pandemic lockdowns reduced greenhouse gas emissions, 2020 saw record emissions and tied for the hottest year ever. Emissions at the end of December 2020 were 2% higher than the same month in 2019, according to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021. The bottom line: “The world remains woefully off track in meeting the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels and reaching net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions globally by 2050,” says the report.