I.

Introduction

SDG 14: Life Below Water

The central role of the ocean in human life and development is a vital aspect, serving not only as a space
for navigation and trade but also as a crucial provider of both living and non-living resources in marine
ecosystems. How it greatly contributed to our environment and humanity is multifaceted and critical for
various aspects of life.

Their major significance is.

 Climate Regulation
 Oxygen Production
 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health
 Food Security
 Economic Resources
 Transportation and Trade
 Recreational and Aesthetic Value
 Climate and Weather Patterns
 Cultural Significance
 Medicinal Resources
 Carbon Sequestration
 Sustainable Development
 Scientific Research

However, human activities and interventions are progressively impeding these ecosystems, necessitating
the importance of environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 is one of the 17 goals established by the United Nations as part
of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. SDG 14 is specifically focused on "Life Below Water,"
addressing the need to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

The goal includes targets aimed are the following:

a. Preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution
b. Protecting and restoring marine ecosystem
c. Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification.
d. Effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing,
and destructive fishing practices.
e. Conservation of coastal areas and marine areas
f. Increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries
from the sustainable use of marine resources.
g. Emphasizes the importance of sustainable management.

References:
Ekau, W., & Hornidge, A.-K. (Eds.). (2022). Transitioning to Sustainable Life below Water. Basel: MDPI.
Retrieved from https://mdpi.com/books/pdfview/edition/1405

II. Solution Brainstorming

III. Conclusion

IV. Reflection and Documentation

Global agreement has been reached to create the world’s first ever agenda of extraordinary
ambition and innovation with a view to achieving success and harmony between humans
and the planet in order to achieve 17 SDGs. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals have a
number of strengths and significance to both humans and the environment, but they’re also
creating synergy and momentum through cooperation. They’re both dependent, and they
can have an impact on one another’s success. They’re coming in as one.

As for the final four SDGs (SDG 14, 15, 16 and 17), their interdependence lies in their
common contribution to building a harmonious, just, sustainable and inclusive world to live.
Although Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) and Sustainable Development Goal 15
(SDG 15) address different aspects of sustainable development, both are related to each
other and to SDG 16 , especially in the context of governance, promoting peace, justice and
inclusive societies, and addressing the use of marine resources and terrestrial ecosystems.
Effective governance and law enforcement are essential to achieve both goals. SDG 16’s call
for strong institutions aligns directly with the need for regulations, policies and enforcement
mechanisms to ensure the sustainable use and protection of marine resources (SDG 14).
Accomplishing SDG 15 includes implementing natural assurance laws and controls. SDG 16
underpins this by guaranteeing that lawful frameworks are available, reasonable, and able of
tending to natural issues. SDG 16 builds up the run the show of law that will avoid struggle
over rare marine assets and natural stressors. In 2021, it propelled the UN Decade of Sea
Science for Maintainable Advancement (the ‘Ocean Decade’), which points to create the
“science we require for the sea we need”. Most nations have coastlines and infer benefits
from sea assets, and the powers that shape and are formed by the sea are planetary in scale,
rising above national boundaries. It considered rapidly changing ocean risks, the evolution
of responsible and ethical research regimes, what measures could be taken to enhance the
Ocean Decade’s potential for building peace through cooperation, as well as its impact on
mitigating conflicts and making peace possible.

On the other hand, the relationship between Sustainable Development Goals 14, 15, 16
(SDG 14, 15, 16) and Sustainable Development Goal 17 (SDG 17) lies in the cooperative and
global partnership aspects of those goals. As outlined in SDGs 14, 15 and 16, protecting
oceans, marine life, terrestrial ecosystems, peace and justice cannot be achieved by any one
organization alone; We need connections and the mobilization of global partnerships and
 alliances. Share solutions, best practices, strengthen organizations and improve the
effectiveness of sustainable outcomes.

Implementing SDGs 14, 15, 16 and 17 will have interrelated impacts due to their holistic
nature. Protecting marine ecosystems has a positive impact on land health, and sustainable
land management reduces pollution that affects both regions. Strong institutions and judicial
enforcement improve conservation regulation. Collaborative partnerships are essential for
water, land and institutions goals.

As aspiring civil engineers, these SDGs will help us in the near future as we incorporate
sustainable and eco-friendly practices in line with the above mentioned SDGs, especially in
minimizing environmental impacts and considering biodiversity in planning coastal
infrastructure construction, port and land development, and urban planning. All of this
while ensuring access to justice, respect for the rule of law, infrastructure/projects that
respect human rights, cultural sensitivity and social inclusion. Furthermore, because civil
engineering projects often require collaboration with local governments and/or international
companies, we must engage in cross-sector collaboration to solve complex challenges. And
promoting sustainable development, which highlights SDG 17. Civil engineers plays a role in
translating the principles of the interconnected SDGs into concrete action, thereby
contributing to the development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

V. Poster