The state of nature report has revealed that more than half of UK wildlife species studied have declined since 1970. This decline has been linked to intensive farming practices although farm leaders have disputed the findings. Understanding these issues and the role of agriculture will contribute to the advancement of SDG 15.5 to take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
One of the most important consequences of climate change could be its effects on agriculture and subsequent global food availability. This modelling study is the first quantitative analysis of the global health implications of dietary and weight changes in view of climate change and agricultural production. It estimates the excess mortality attributable to agriculturally mediated changes by cause of death for 155 world regions in the year 2050. Authors warn that climate change mitigation will be key to preventing climate-related deaths through food insecurity and thereby demonstrating the linkages between SDG 3 and SDG 13.
Food security is enshrined in SDG2 and is also a core component of the human development and capability paradigm, since food access and entitlements are critical for reinforcing essential human capabilities. This paper argues that agriculture is central to improving food security and reducing poverty in Africa, requiring rapid increases in land productivity and increases in agricultural yields. A science-based approach that integrates gender and sustainability is critical to design and implement policies that improve the availability of farm inputs and farm technology.
The Green Shipping panel discussion at Oceanology International 2016 explored the impact of invasive species carried across the seas not only inside ships and shipping containers, but also attached to hulls. Invasive species have been identified as one of the four greatest threats to the world’s oceans. Highlighting issues relating to shipping and invasive species helps to advance SDG 14.2 to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
The Aquaculture Conference at Oceanology International 2016 brought together industry experts to explore the latest challenges faced by the aquaculture sector. The themes explored include fish health, containment, environmental security, marine biofuel development and spatial planning. Advancing techniques in these areas helps to advance SDG 14.4 to effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans.
This report offers a framework for principle-based collaboration between business, the UN, governments, civil society and other stakeholders in relation to soil management and the entire agricultural value chain. It directly supports SDG 2 and SDG 15.
Reducing emissions from deforestation requires policy change. This paper investigates how governance systems and their discursive practices are affecting policies aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries: it highlights the challenges to the advancement of SDG 15.1 to ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, in line with obligations under international agreements by promoting conservation, restoration and sustainable use of these ecosystems and their services.
Ecosystems provide a range of services that are crucial to human wellbeing, health and survival. This paper provides an updated estimate of the global value of ecosystem services to enable these services to be properly appreciated and taken into account during decision-making. Knowing the true value of ecosystem services contributes to advancing SDG target 13.3 to improve awareness-raising and action on climate change mitigation, as well as SDG target 15 as it helps preserve ecosystems and maintain high biodiversity.
