SDG 14: Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
SDG14 focuses on the reduction of marine pollution of all kinds and the protection of delicate marine and coastal ecosystems. This includes minimising and addressing the impacts of ocean acidification caused by the increasing levels of carbon in the atmosphere.
Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods, while oceans also provide key natural resources for medicines, biofuels, and other products. Careful management of the marine environment is therefore an important element in ensuring sustainable development goals. However, that environment is under threat from climate change, pollution, and overfishing.
How CSC is making a positive difference?
The CSC certification system makes a notable positive contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life below Water, through its specialized Technical Manual for Marine Aggregates (MA), which defines marine aggregates as those sourced from dredging zones beneath sea level in marine environments. This manual ensures that extraction activities in marine environments are conducted sustainably and responsibly. Within this framework, the E5 criteria focus on water management, aiming to optimize water use and ensure that discharged water meets environmental quality standards. By implementing policies addressing water scarcity and impact (E5.02), monitoring water resources (E5.03), and reporting on water use and quality of discharged water (E5.06), CSC certification promotes transparency and accountability in water management practices. Additionally, requiring water treatment measures (E5.07) helps minimize potential adverse impacts on marine ecosystems, thereby contributing to the preservation and protection of life below water as outlined in SDG 14. Through its specialized Technical Manual for Marine Aggregates, CSC certification supports sustainable practices in marine aggregate extraction, safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Marine aggregates
Definitions in this MA-CSC certification system:
Marine Aggregates (MA): Aggregates from dredging zones under sea level in marine environment
E5 – Water
Aim
To optimize water use and to ensure that discharged water is of a quality that does not harm the environment.
E5.01 Water Policy
E5.02 Water scarcity and impact
E5.03 Water monitoring
E5.04 Water target
E5.05 Verification of water reporting
E5.06 Report on water use and quality of discharged water
E5.07 Water treatment
How the cement and concrete industry is making a positive difference
When it comes to protecting and restoring the ocean environment (SDG14.2), concrete’s durability in marine environments makes it is an ideal material with which to build artificial reefs, often as part of offshore construction projects, that support the regeneration of natural marine habitats.[1] With a majority of reefs under threat from human activity, these artificial reefs are an important opportunity to restore the complex undersea ecosystems that are so important to human development.
Ocean acidification can only be addressed by the transition to a low-carbon economy (SDG14.3). The cement and concrete industry recognise the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and is taking action to reduce the carbon intensity of production methods and mitigate the impact of climate change [link to SDG13].
For example, under the GCCA Climate Ambition, GCCA members have committed to drive down the CO2 footprint of their operations and products with the aspiration to deliver carbon-neutral concrete by 2050. Actions already being taken by the industry include efforts to achieve greater energy efficiency, higher use of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources, increased use of alternative cementitious materials and aggregates, and research into carbon capture technologies.
Meanwhile, the cement industry helps prevent ocean pollution from plastics and other wastes (SDG14.1) through its use of refuse-derived alternative fuels in the cement manufacturing process.