Ocean Acidification in relation to SDG14 (and 13)
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SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals
GI-18 Initiative

SDGs represent a clear opportunity for generating greater coherence
between EO and society, environment and economy policy issues.
EO can play key roles in monitoring targets, planning, tracking progress,and helping nations and other stakeholders make informed decisions.

17 goals
169 targets
230 indicators

10 TARGETS and 10 INDICATORS“Indicators [are] the backbone of monitoring progress towards the SDGs atthe local, national, regional, and global levels. A sound indicator
framework will turn the SDGs and their targets into a management tool tohelp countries develop implementation strategies and allocate resources
accordingly, as well as a report card to measure progress towards
sustainable development and help ensure the accountability of all
stakeholders for achieving the SDGs.”

SDG-14 Targets (1)14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all
kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine
debris and nutrient pollution
14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal
ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including bystrengthening their resilience, and take action for their restorationin order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification,
including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing,illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishingpractices and implement science-based management plans, in order torestore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels
that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their
biological characteristics
14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine
areas, consistent with national and international law and based on theSDG-14 Targets (2)14.6 By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which
contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that
contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrainfrom introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate andeffective special and differential treatment for developing and least
developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade
Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation.
14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island
developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable
use of marine resources, including through sustainable management offisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.A Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity andtransfer marine technology, in order to improve ocean health and toenhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development ofdeveloping countries, in particular small island developing States andleast developed countries
14.B Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine
resources and markets

10 TARGETS and 10 INDICATORSThemes• Marine pollution• marine and coastalecosystems• ocean acidification• Overfishing• Illegal, unreported andunregulated fishing• small-scale artisanalfishers• Improve ocean health• Economic benefits toActions• prevent and reduce• Conserve, sustainably manage anduse, international law• Minimize• Regulate,• Prohibit• access to marine resources &markets• research capacity and transfer
marine technologySDG-14 Indicators• Tier I: Indicators conceptually clear,established methodology and standards
available and data regularly produced bycountries.
• Tier II: Indicator conceptually clear,established methodology and standards
available but data are not regularly producedby countries.
• Tier III: Indicators for which there are no
established methodology and standards ormethodology/standards are being
developed/tested.

SDG-14 Indicators
Indicator
14.1.1 Index of coastal eutrophication and floating
plastic debris density
14.2.1 Proportion of national exclusive economic zones
managed using ecosystem-based approaches
14.3.1 Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed
suite of representative sampling stations
14.4.1 Proportion of fish stocks within biologicallysustainable levels
14.5.1 Coverage of protected areas in relation tomarine areas
14.6.1 Progress by countries in the degree ofimplementation of international instruments aiming tocombat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7.1 Sustainable fisheries as a percentage of GDP insmall island developing States, least developed
countries and all countries
14.a.1 Proportion of total research budget allocated toresearch in the field of marine technology
14.b.1 Progress by countries in the degree ofapplication of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutionalframework which recognizes and protects access rights
for small-scale fisheries
14.c.1 Number of countries making progress in
ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal,
policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-relatedinstruments that implement international law, as
reflected in the United Nation Convention on the Lawof the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of
the oceans and their resources

Tier I

Tier III

Custodian

OthersRemoteinvolvedSensing
IOC; IMO;
X
FAO

X

UNEP

X

UNEP

IOC; FAO

XIOC

UNEP

In situ
X

X
XX

FAO

X

X

UNEPWCMC

X

X

FAO

?

?

X

?

FAO; UNEP;
WB

X

IOC

UNEP; WB?

X

FAO?

?

X

UNDOALOS;
FAO; UNEP;
ILO; other
UN Oceansagencies

Defining Ocean Acidification targets
Target14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including
through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
Indicator
14.3.1 Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite ofrepresentative sampling stations
1. Is the OA target conceptually clear-physically, biologically, socio-economically?
a) If not what are the gaps?
2. Indicator interpretation
a. what does average mean?
b. What what criteria should be used to determine representatives sites
3. What methodologies are there available and what might need to be developed?
a. Measurementb. Analysis and interpretation an reporting
4. Are there standards defined for :a. Measurementb. Baselines and thresholds
5. Are countries making these measurements
a. What are the barrier to making these measurements

What else is needed for the SDG-14 Tier
III Indicators?
I. Institutional Custodian 
II.Concepts and definitions (definition,rationale, concept, limitations, etc.)
III.Methodology (computational method,disaggregation, treatment of missing values,sources of discrepancies, etc.)
IV.Data sources
V. Data availability
VI.Calendar
VII.Data providers
VIII.Data Compilers

Ocean Acidification questions and products

From Albright et al (2015)