With our population growing larger and larger, human and industrial waste and how to dispose of them is becoming a very significant problem. This photo was taken earlier this month of a small creek on campus, where a significant number of plastic bags, along with other litter, were floating downstream or washed ashore. According to the UN, over 40 percent of our oceans are affected by pollution. Both on campus and off, it is usually rare to be near a body of water and not see some sort of pollution. The effects of human pollution are becoming more and more severe for life above and below water.

 

This photo represents Sustainable Development Goal #14, Life below water. Although we cant see it as easily as life on land, aquatic life is facing significant detriments due to anthropogenic climate change and trash pollution. Although this photo doesn't portray an ocean, the fact that trash can even be found in such a small stream is very representative of the scale of the issue. In addition to trash pollution, ocean acidification from excess greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is harming the majority of marine life, especially those who rely on calcium carbonate to grow exoskeletons. Given that so much of the world relies on the oceans as a food source or for some other part of their livelihoods, it is more important than ever to make changes to protect our planet's invaluable life below water.