World Ocean Day: 30 by 30 - A Global Conservation Plan

World Ocean Day

On 8th June 2022, we celebrate the United Nations’ World Ocean Day – a chance to understand the significant role our global ocean has in the world, as well as learn about the steps we can take to protect it. The ocean has significant importance in the world, from regulating weather and climate to absorbing carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere. This year’s theme focuses on ‘Revitalisation: Collective Action for the Ocean’ and aims to enlighten the world about the individuals and communities using innovative ideas to sustain and revitalise the ocean [1].  So, this World Ocean Day, we’re asking: how are we taking collective action to restore our global ocean?

The Ocean And The Threats It Faces

The ocean covers around 71% of the Earth’s surface, and provides us with oxygen, climate regulation and food [2]. However, the existence and biodiversity of the world’s ocean is under threat due to human activities. Oil spills, overfishing and climate change are just some of the damaging actions that are impacting marine life within the ocean [3].

75% of Earth’s land areas and 66% of the ocean have suffered significant changes as a result of human activities [4]. Drivers of the change in nature based on their largest relative global impacts so far are changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution and invasive alien species [4].

The ocean is facing extreme conditions as a result of human activities, and the effects of this are already being felt around the world. For example, rising sea levels can impact coastal environments and reduce the saltiness of the water, disrupting currents and local climates. Also, acidification and warming ocean temperatures can lead to coral bleaching and cause wildlife to move their habitats as well as weaken external skeletons and shells [5]. This can then further impact the population and biodiversity of species - in turn this can affect the people who rely on them for food and jobs, and as a result local economies. Without any intervention, dead zones - where the quality of water is too poor to sustain life - could expand [6]. Devastating predictions (such as, by 2050, there could be more plastic in the sea than fish) have led to a global realisation that action needs to be taken to the ocean in order to protect it from more damage [6].

A study in 2018 found that just 13% of the ocean remains unaffected by the impacts of humanity [7]. These areas which remain unaffected, with high levels of biodiversity, show what the ocean potentially could have been like before human activities led to their degradation. However, within that, only 5% of this remaining wilderness is in existing marine protection areas (MPAs), meaning the ocean could be further damaged if no action is taken to prevent it [7].

Importance of the Ocean

The ocean is vital for life on earth, producing over half of the world’s oxygen and storing 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere [8]. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change - by absorbing this from the atmosphere the ocean can help protect the planet against the impacts of climate change. The ocean regulates weather and climate by absorbing 98% of the Sun’s heat from rays and transporting it around Earth through ocean currents [9]. In addition to this, the ocean plays an important role in the water cycle and also helps to improve human health and wellbeing [9]. As a consequence, it is vital the ocean is protected and conserved by global efforts.

30 by 30: A Global Conservation Plan

Referred to as ‘30 by 30’ (or sometimes ‘30x30’) by conservation communities, the aim to conserve 30% of Earth’s land and sea areas by 2030 has been agreed on by over 90 different countries, as part of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People [10, 11]. Co-chaired by Costa Rica, France and the United Kingdom, some of the 94 countries include the USA, Japan, Jamaica and Finland [12]. Driven forward by several non-profit and conservation groups, in late 2018, they called for the target to be achieved by 2030 and outlined three main objectives; regenerate damaged habitats; protect species that are threatened by human activities; and conserve service-providing ecosystems [13]. This is then to be followed with the goal of sustainably managing 50% of the Earth by 2050 [9]. Supported by scientists, this conservation goal could reverse ecological impacts, maintain fish populations, increase resilience to climate change and sustain long-term ocean health [13]. Studies from O’Leary (2016) and Woodley et al. (2019), indicate that protecting 30% of the Earth’s land and waters could help to reverse adverse ecological impacts and provide an ecosystem-based solution [14, 15]. Additionally, it would significantly help progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.

Action Towards 30 by 30

One way this target can help to be achieved is through legislation. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are important to maintain biodiversity and services they provide [13]. Using knowledge from governments, scientists, local communities and Indigenous Peoples, legislation can be provided to protect ecologically important areas. These could help sustain long-term ocean health, as well as provide natural hazard prevention and climate adaptation. Outside of protected areas, other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) can provide long-term support for the conservation of biodiversity and the recovery of threatened species [16]. Besides these, a collaborative approach between countries will help to ensure that conservation targets are met on a global scale and between borders. The majority of our ocean is the high seas, which means they are international waters. As they are not any one country’s responsibility, it is even more important that there is collaboration between countries including a global High Seas Treaty to ensure this global conservation plan is able to be met. Along with this, continual funding of organisations and individuals attempting to protect marine and land areas will be vital. For example, nine organisations launched the Protecting Our Planet Challenge – pledging $5 billion to help the 30 by 30 plan be achieved [13].

Challenges in Achieving 30 by 30

A report from the UN found that the world failed to achieve any of the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets, which were aimed for completion in 2020 [17]. Whilst progress was made on six of them, the $500 billion of Government spending on environmentally damaging subsidies helped to result in the overwhelming majority remaining incomplete [18]. Given that the 30 by 30 plan is extremely ambitious in protecting 30% of the world’s lands and ocean, it will require significant funding and commitment from governments and communities across the world. Industries which are environmentally degenerative such as agriculture, fishing, and fossil need to be addressed and sustainably transformed – however, this will need major collaboration between countries on a global scale [18]. In addition to this, there are concerns that the plan will threaten the rights of Indigenous Peoples who have been protecting their lands for millennia; even though 80% of Earth’s biodiversity is found there, up to 300 million Indigenous Peoples could lose their homes if they become Protected Areas - they could then lose the right to live there and feed themselves from their land [19]. This has created calls for community-based conservation efforts that do not disrupt the lives of Indigenous Peoples, but instead empowers them [19].

Progress to Date and Action YOUth Can Take

Having a high level of biodiversity in one area can impact the biodiversity in a nearby area as changes can affect the whole ecosystem. That is why this goal must be achieved globally, with communication between countries. Current progress includes, in the USA, for example, a $1 billion program launched to take steps to achieve the 30 by 30 goal; it aims to promote locally-led conservation projects throughout the time until 2030 [20]. To help action towards 30 by 30 and to protect the ocean, there are lots of things young people can do - for example, sign a letter to your nation’s leader (you can find out more through the World Ocean Day website) or attend an event to learn more about 30 by 30!

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ocean is currently under threat due to human activities; ensuring that 30% of it is protected could have a huge importance in maintaining the health of the ocean and the biodiversity of fish populations [3]. As the ocean is significant in maintaining life, it is important it is protected against human activities. The 30 by 30 plan aims to conserve 30% of Earth’s land and ocean by 2030 and though legislation is being put in place to help achieve it, more action will be needed to ensure this ambitious goal is reached. Studies have shown that protecting 30% of land and ocean could reverse adverse ecological impacts; this is hugely significant in protecting the future health of the planet [13]. As a consequence, this plan could increase the planet’s resilience to climate change - a major global challenge. So, whilst huge efforts still need to be made, continual support of the plan needs to be maintained and different solutions need to be considered, the 30 by 30 plan could be instrumental in creating more sustainable lands and ocean in the future. 

References

[1] 2022 United Nations World Oceans Day, “UN World Oceans Day,” n.d.. [Online] Available: https://unworldoceansday.org/un-world-oceans-day-2022/. [Accessed 11 April 2022].

[2] National Geographic Society, “Ocean”, National Geographic, June 15, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ocean/. [Accessed 17 April 2022].

[3] National Geographic Society, “Ocean Threats”, National Geographic, n.d.. [Online]. Available: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/ocean-threats. [Accessed 11 April 2022].

[4] United Nations, “UN Report: Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’; Species Extinction Rates ‘Accelerating’,” May 6, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/. [Accessed 12 April 2022].

[5] The Natural History Museum, “How does climate change affect the ocean?,” n.d.. [Online]. Available: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/quick-questions/how-does-climate-change-affect-the-ocean.html. [Accessed 18 April 2022].

[6] K. Pavid, “Will the ocean really be dead in 50 years?,” n.d.. [Online]. Available: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/will-the-ocean-really-die.html. [Accessed 18 April 2022].

[7] D. Carrington, “Almost all world’s oceans damaged by human impact, study finds,” The Guardian, July 26, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/26/just-13-of-global-oceans-undamaged-by-humanity-research-reveals. [Accessed 17 April 2022].

[8] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Why should we care about the ocean?,” n.d.. [Online]. Available: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/why-care-about-ocean.html. [Accessed 19 June 2022].

[9] Ocean Conservation Trust, “Why is the Ocean Important,” n.d.. [Online]. Available: https://oceanconservationtrust.org/ocean-advocacy/think-ocean/why-is-the-ocean-important/. [Accessed 19 June 2022].

[10] S. Gibbens, “The U.S. commits to tripling its protected lands. Here’s how it could be done,” National Geographic, January 27, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/biden-commits-to-30-by-2030-conservation-executive-orders. [Accessed 23 April 2022].

[11] Campaign For Nature, “United States Joins Coalition of Countries Pushing for Global Goal to Protect at least 30% of the Earth by 2030,” April 14, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.campaignfornature.org/us-joins-coalition-of-countries-pushing-for-global-goal-to-protect-at-least-30-of-the-earth-by-2030. [Accessed 23 April 2022].

[12] High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, “HAC Member Countries,” n.d.. [Online]. Available: https://www.hacfornatureandpeople.org/hac-members. [Accessed 7 June 2022]

[13] UK Government, “Global Ocean Alliance: 30by30 initiative,” GOV.UK, n.d.. [Online]. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/global-ocean-alliance-30by30-initiative/about. [Accessed 24 April 2022].

[14] B. O’Leary et al., “Effective Coverage Targets for Ocean Protection,” Conservation Letters, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 398-404, 2016. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12247.

[15] S. Woodley et al. “Review of Evidence for Area-based Conservation Targets for the Post[1]2020 Global Biodiversity Framework”. [Online]. Available: https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/a_review_of_evidence_for_area-based_conservation_targets_for_the_post-2020_global_biodiversity_framework_-_final.pdf. [Accessed 19 June 2022].

[16] International Union For Conservation of Nature, “OECMs”. [Online]. Available: https://www.iucn.org/commissions/world-commission-protected-areas/our-work/oecms. [Accessed 19 June 2022]

[17] J. McCarthy, “The World Must Protect 30% of Land and Oceans by 2030. Is It Possible?,” Global Citizen, August 16, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/30x30-land-and-ocean-by-2030-explainer/. [Accessed 24 April 2022].

[18] P. Greenfield, “World fails to meet a single target to stop destruction of nature – UN report,” The Guardian, September 15, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/15/every-global-target-to-stem-destruction-of-nature-by-2020-missed-un-report-aoe. [Accessed 25 April 2022].

[19] C. Jaay, “Why the plan to protect 30% of the planet by 2030 is terrible news for Indigenous people,” Euronews, March 15, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/03/15/why-the-plan-to-protect-30-of-the-planet-by-2030-is-terrible-news-for-indigenous-people. [Accessed 25 April 2022].

[20] C. D’Angelo, “White House Launches $1 Billion Program To Boost Conservation Goal,” Huffington Post, April 12, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/biden-america-the-beautiful-challenge-30x30_n_625432dee4b06c2ea32105ec. [Accessed 27 April 2022].