SDG 14 on Ensuring Conservation and Sustainable Use of Oceans and Marine Resources: Contributions of International Law, Policy and Governance.
Dr Konstantia Koutouki, Freedom-Kai Phillips
This Issue Brief focuses on the international legal framework and treaty obligations underlying Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Three-quarters of the planet’s surface consists of oceans, seas, and marine areas. They are a vital provider of food for humans and wildlife, and crucial to regional, national and local economies, as well as an important regulator of our climate and an important source of cultural and spiritual inspiration for many peoples and communities. SDG 14 on oceans, seas, and marine resources is particularly important for the environmental pillar of sustainable development which provides an essential foundation for economic prosperity and social well-being. As discussed in this Issue Brief, however, the international legal instruments, governance arrangements and policy collaborations on sustainable development in relation to conservation and sustainable use of marine resources are still evolving, and more specifically with regard to key aspects of SDG 14, important gaps can be found.
Available here: SDG 14