Group 5_A | SDG 14 : Life Below Water
Lies Below Water
A brief account of
all the horrors we commit to our waters and is SDG 14 enough to tackle it?
Anshul Raina BJ21011 | Jigyasa Dayal BJ21025 | Kritika Jalan
BJ21028 | Mansi Ramrakhyani BJ21031 | Mohit Munjal BJ21032 | Sarang Chaudhar
BJ21047 | Shruti Malankar BJ21052
What is SDG 14?
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are a blueprint
prescribed by the UN in 2015 to help attain a more sustainable future by 2030.
There are 17 goals that aim to bring about holistic development on all fronts
whether they maybe environmental, social or economic.(1) This blog elaborates on
SDG 14: Life Below water. The 14th goal as described by the UN is “Conserve
and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development”(2). SDG 14 sounds the
alarm on pollution, acidification, eutrophication and rising temperatures of
the oceans. Not only is this wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems but it is also
destroying many coastal communities that rely on these waters for sustenance.
How big is the problem?
There are hundreds of metrics that can be quoted to illustrate the worsening conditions of the oceans, if this blog were to describe measures like dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, water pH levels etc. the chances of you, the reader, shutting your tabs is very high. So, a recent finding that very accurately sums up the situation would be when marine scientist Deo Onda became the first person to reach the depth of Emden Deep, the third deepest point on earth. Whilst looking for new and strange life forms, he came across a pair of eyes, not of a mysterious creature but those of a teddy bear(3). Amongst other things he found clothes and plastics in the depths of the Pacific Ocean.
Another story closer to home would be these
images of trash regurgitated by the Arabian after cyclone Tauktae(4). Finally, to sum up
there are 3 garbage patches in our oceans each 3 times the size of France(5). So, it wouldn’t be an
understatement to say that we have countries of garbage floating in our water
and not to mention all the effluents that end up in our seas.
What does SDG 14 prescribe?
SDG 14 outlines 10 indicators that countries can use to measure their impact on life below their waters and also help measure the progress they make every year. To assist the quantification of these metrics, SDG 14 also prescribes indicators that can help measure these targets. Some of these targets include(2) :
- Reduce marine pollution
- Protect marine ecosystems
- Minimize ocean acidification
- Prevent illegal fishing
- Economic benefits from sustainable fishing & other activities
- Conserve & protect 10% coastal and marine areas
- Increase marine research etc.
Countries can voluntarily choose to collect and compile
their data and publish their annual report about their SDG compliance. They can
also be used to measure and compare national trends yearly and between states.
India’s Performance
Niti Aayog voluntarily reports on SDG goals and publishes a
report yearly. India only records data for only 4 of the 10 indicators for SDG
14 using 5 different measures as shown in the table below.
According to these indicators Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are
the best performing states while Tamil Nadu is the worst. (6)
Are SDG measures perfect?
Biological Oxygen Demand measures the oxygen required by
aerobic organisms to breakdown organic material, total nitrogen concentration
measures the nitrogen from effluents that enter water bodies this combined with
acidity measurements are a good measurement of water pollution(6). Along with this total
mangrove cover and area for aquaculture is also measured. While these measures
are indicative, they are certainly not holistic. There are no measurements for
solid waste or particulate matter. The underwater biodiversity or its loss is
also not accounted for. There are no set cut off limits for these measures as
different geographical locations and ecosystems have different signatures.
Thus, progress with these measures can in no way be extrapolated to improving (or worsening) situations of the oceans.
India’s Share of Water Crimes
While garbage, single use plastics, effluents form are major
source of water pollution illustrated below are some instances of grave crimes
that India has partaken in the pollution and destruction of marine ecosystems.
Crimes in International waters
The Palk strait is rich marine life and so the nearby communities rely primarily on fishing, such as those in Rameshwaram. In the 90s the government gave subsidies to these communities which enabled them to buy trawlers replacing their small boats. These trawlers have large nets that rake up the sea floor in search of prawns. Disturbing the sea bed destroys these fragile ecosystems rapidly. After exhausting the prawn supplies in Indian waters, Indian fishermen started crossing borders into Sri Lanka largely unchecked as the region was war torn at the time. Only to wreak havoc there too. After the war, the decimated Sri Lankan coastal communities started returning to fishing in the 2000s but their small boats were no match for the large Indian trawlers. Thus, they could not fish in the deep seas and the war battered communities were further marginalized. Therefore, in it’s bid to boost prawn exports, India destroyed not only its own marine ecosystems but those of Sri Lanka along with their livelihoods .(7)
It would be interesting to note, how would an SDG account for such instances of biodiversity destruction? While we as humans have made imaginary lines in the sea, the loss of biodiversity is borderless. Can an SDG or in fact any national metric measure losses done to collective resources?
Mangrove Murders
Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) is the commercial of hub of
Mumbai, home to the offices many MNCs and headquarters of the largest
conglomerates in India. People migrating from different parts of the country do
not know and maybe those from Mumbai do not remember that “BKC was built on the graveyard of thousands of mangroves”(8). Amongst the numerous
advantages that mangrove wetlands provide us the most important reason that
should be a top priority for Mumbai authorities is that they effectively absorb
tidal changes. Thus, they help prevent floods and are 100 times cheaper than
any man-built flood prevention bunds.
Mumbai authorities are repeat offenders, 32,000
mangroves were cut for the bullet train projects, illegal reclamations for the
SEZ project have resulted in the degradation of hectares of mangrove forests as
their tidal water supply has been cut off(8)(9). Recently for the
coastal road project it is estimated that close to 9 hectares ( equivalent to
1% of total mangroves in Mumbai)of mangrove forests will be axed(10). Losing these forests
is not only detrimental to the city but will endanger 177+ species that depend
on these wetlands for survival.(8)
While the SDG clearly measures mangrove cover, in the
pretext of development environmental norms are the easiest to flout. Can the
corporates really be blamed for their misdoings when government pet projects
are a source of widespread destruction? And finally, just because a goal and
measure exist, do governments actively pursue ways to better their indices?
While government enthusiasm to protect life below water might
not be very high, the private sector giants are making an effort to be more
sustainable. Is it a giant PR strategy or as anticipatory compliance to
future regulations or simply just hogwash? that is debate for another time. But to mention some laudable efforts, HUL has pledged to have 100% of the plastic used
in their products to be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. HUL aims
to integrate all its production into a circular economy as well. They even
safely disposed off 1,00,000 tonnes of post-consumer waste.(11)
While HUL or similar FMCG giants are taking up such measures
at their own volition or in compliance with extended producer responsibility
(EPR), it is extremely difficult to get a company to be responsible for product
post its consumption. The argument that polluting products should be disposed
off by the producer themselves might have a moral stand point it is an
implementation nightmare. Coca-Cola is the largest plastic polluter in the
world but is it viable to make it responsible for every plastic bottle thrown
away?
Maybe a better way to go about would be clever design, which
would minimise the waste produced to begin with. While plastic is a big
problem, not all plastics are made the same. It is actually the rings on the
plastics bottles that are most harmful as they are often mistaken for worms and
consumed by sea life or small animals get trapped in the rings and often
suffocate. A similar issue occurs with plastic rings used to pack beer cans.
Saltwater Brewery, based out of Florida, has designed rings made of beer waste
which is primarily consists of wheat. These are not only biodegradable but also completely safe
if consumed my marine life. (12)
The Tata group has also been at the forefront of
sustainability projects and unlike most conglomerates it has championed the
cause of marine conservation. Tata chemicals in collaboration with the wildlife
trust of India revived the coral reefs in Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park(13). It also fostered the
“Save the Whale Shark” initiative to protect the species along the Gujarat
coast. The Taj group undertook a similar “Reef Recharge Project” off the coast
of Maldives. Tata motors converted 245 acres of barren land near its factory in
Pimpri-Chinchwad into a flourishing wetland. And finally, TCS funds the Marine
Turtle Conservation Program to protect the Olive Ridley turtles off the coast
of Odisha. The efforts taken by the Tata group are unlike most organisations and
are laudable in their efforts to conserve the environment in their vicinity and
beyond(14).
Empowering without thought?
SDG 14 prescribes for sustainable aquaculture and fishing
practices in order to economically benefit the dependent communities and not
harm marine life. With wild shrimp number dwindling government in Bangladesh
pushed for shrimp aquaculture. With subsidies and awareness drives large
chunks of fertile land were flooded with salt water for shrimp aquaculture. This led
to a massive boom in shrimp exports from Bangladesh. As farmers pushed for more
aggressive cultivation, diseases ravaged the shrimps, reducing production. The
salt water flooded fields were no longer fit for crop cultivation and thus for
farmers there was no going back. As the saltwater seeped through the ground it
made underground water and pond water unpotable. To facilitate water drainage,
mangroves were destroyed illegally. Now, the once fertile lands near the
Sundarbans have been converted to arid deserts and have an acute drinking water
problem.(15)
While community empowerment and development are important,
ideas not thought through can wreak widespread havoc. As an SDG 14 goal
Bangladesh might have increased its aquaculture potential but how would an
SDG measure the farmland, communities and fresh water destroyed?
Laws in India
India has finally woken up to the plastic problem and has been trying to hold all stakeholders responsible. Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016) were designed to better deal with waste disposal. With the introduction of EPR, the government is holding responsible the most polluting conglomerates. But there’s no legislation that specifically deals with marine pollution.
Mangroves are covered under the forest conservation Act (1980).
Marine species are protected under the Wildlife (conservation) Act 1972 and the government can
declare marine protected areas under the same provision. Marine fisheries
regulation Act was specifically introduced to prevent unsustainable fishing
practices and under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011 of
Environment Protection Act (1986), coastal ecosystems are also protected by the
government.(16)
As it is apparent that there is no dearth of legislation in
India to protect life under water but it is on the implementation front that we
are lagging, a sentiment also echoed by TERI.
Heart in the right place?
While SDGs are well intentioned, since they are a voluntarily
adopted set of guidelines, they are nothing but a toothless tiger. While a parameter measurement framework has been provided, the path to implementation is ignored. While it is a good standard to hold a county up to, they can often
ignore the on-ground realities. Finally, SDG 14 is titled life below water but it has
conveniently ignored life in ponds, river and lakes. It focuses primarily on
marine life. It is important to note that all these ecosystems are not
independent of one another and cannot be viewed in modules. The health of
rivers is very important to the health of our seas. Hence, while SDG 14
definitions and targets need to broaden. India needs to take up SDG targets in
their totality and take more aggressive steps in their attainment.
REFERENCES
1. Sustainable Development Goals | United
Nations Development Programme [Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 13]. Available from:
https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals
2. Goal 14 | Department of Economic and
Social Affairs [Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 13]. Available from:
https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal14
3. Filipino Scientist Goes 10,000 Meters
Down the Ocean and Finds a Teddy Bear [Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 13].
Available from:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7eb54/deo-onda-filipino-scientist-philippines-trench
4. “Cyclone Tauktae Sends Its Regards”:
Sea Returns Man-made Trash to Mumbai Beaches [Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 13].
Available from:
https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/cyclone-tauktae-mumbai-beach-garbage-dumped-on-beaches-pollution-3756257.html
5. 7 Genuinely Shocking Facts About Our
Global Waste Problem [Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 13]. Available from:
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/global-waste-facts-plastic-fashion-food/
6. SDG India 2021 [Internet]. Available
from:
https://www.niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/SDG_3.0_Final_04.03.2021_Web_Spreads.pdf
7. India and Sri Lanka’s violent fight
over fish - YouTube [Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 14]. Available from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WesrJBgEmyw
8. Mumbai gets that ‘sinking’ feeling!
[Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 14]. Available from: https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/opinion/mumbai-gets-‘sinking’-feeling-42543
9. Uran fishermen move HC to save
mangroves from construction | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times [Internet]. [cited
2021 Dec 14]. Available from: https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/uran-fishermen-move-hc-to-save-mangroves-from-construction/story-Lz9hNr31XPZoVTKUUjLZNP.html
10. Coastal Road project: Mumbai to lose
mangrove cover equivalent to 4 Oval Maidans | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times [Internet].
[cited 2021 Dec 14]. Available from:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/coastal-road-project-mumbai-to-lose-mangrove-cover-equivalent-to-4-oval-maidans/story-H5mCqmfPB1jVO5FxuCKXOL.html
11. Strive for a sustainable ocean economy -
Hindustan Times [Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 14]. Available from:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/strive-for-a-sustainable-ocean-economy/story-XKesEve1bFdzYYlAhGRHSM.html
12. Brewery creates edible six-pack rings that
are safe for animals eat | Globalnews.ca [Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 14].
Available from: https://globalnews.ca/news/3792000/edible-six-pack-ring-beer/
13. Tata Chemicals reveals what made the Coral
Reef Restoration Project a success - The CSR Journal [Internet]. [cited 2021
Dec 14]. Available from:
https://thecsrjournal.in/tata-chemicals-csr-coral-reef-restoration-project-interview/
14. Environment | Tata and the community
[Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 14]. Available from:
https://www.tata.com/community/environment
15. In Bangladesh, the shrimp industry is
driving a freshwater crisis [Internet]. [cited 2021 Dec 14]. Available from:
https://scroll.in/article/1011066/in-bangladesh-the-shrimp-industry-is-driving-a-freshwater-crisis
16. Bhatt JR, Vivekanandan E. Coastal and
marine biodiversity conservation in India.
Comments
Post a Comment