SDG 14: Life below water
The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind. How we manage this vital resource is essential for humanity as a whole, and to counterbalance the effects of climate change.
Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. However, today we are seeing 30 percent of the world’s fish stocks overexploited, reaching below the level at which they can produce sustainable yields.
Oceans also absorb about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, and we are seeing a 26 percent rise in ocean acidification since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Marine pollution, an overwhelming majority of which comes from land-based sources, is reaching alarming levels, with an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic litter to be found on every square kilometre of ocean.
The SDGs aim to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution, as well as address the impacts of ocean acidification. Enhancing conservation and the sustainable use of ocean-based resources through international law will also help mitigate some of the challenges facing our oceans. (UNDP, 2015)
Companies that are achieving this are:
Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY)
Industry: Pharmaceuticals
Headquartered in: US
By mid-2021, Lilly aims to transition 90% of its endotoxin tests—a mandatory quality test for pharmaceuticals and medical devices—from a process which relies on bleeding horseshoe crabs to a synthetic compound. It is constantly assessesing water risks and focuses on conserving and reducing water use and improving water quality. To study the overall impact of its manufacturing facilities on the local environment, Lilly's site in Kinsale, Ireland, initiated a longstanding evaluation of aquatic habitat quality in 1978. Managed by the National University of Ireland Galway, the Kinsale Harbour Study is one of the longest studies of marine coastline conducted anywhere in the world.
Swiss Reinsurance Company
(SIX:SREN)
As the world's biggest reinsurance company, a committment to sustainability and building global resilience is a core part of Swiss Re's strategy to stay competitive by managing risks related to ESG issues.
Swiss Re is collaborating with The Nature Conservancy to incorporate nature-based coastal adaptation measures. They have pioneered reef insurance policies to insure natural ecosystems such as coastal marshes, mangroves and coral reefs which can protect people and property from storms and floods.
Industry: Insurance
Headquartered in: Switzerland
Adidas (FSE:ADDYY)
Eliminated plastic shopping bags from our retail stores globally already in 2016.
Significantly broadened their range of sustainable products in 2020 and are already ahead of their plan to have virgin polyester removed from their products by 2024.
Plans to reduce company’s carbon footprint by 30% by 2030 (compared to 2017), and aim to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
In Germany, Adidas already sources all of electricity from renewable sources.