Australia’s marine havens on track for ‘extreme’ conditions by 2040 – Oceanographic Magazine

Report on the Climate Vulnerability of Australian Marine Protected Areas and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Current Status of Marine Protected Areas and Link to SDG 14

• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) currently encompass approximately 50% of Australia’s seven million square kilometre marine territory.
• These zones are designed to protect critical ecosystems, including coral reefs, kelp forests, seagrass beds, and mangroves, directly contributing to the objectives of SDG 14 (Life Below Water), particularly Target 14.5 concerning the conservation of marine areas.
• However, the primary design of these MPAs was to mitigate direct human impacts such as fishing and mining, not the pervasive effects of climate change.

Climate Change Threats to MPAs and SDG 13 Imperatives

• Research indicates that the geographical location of MPAs alone is insufficient to protect them from climate-driven changes, such as ocean warming.
• MPAs in north-western and eastern Australia have been identified as being at the highest risk from these climate impacts.
• This vulnerability underscores that conservation efforts under SDG 14 are being undermined by a lack of progress on SDG 13 (Climate Action). Without aggressive climate mitigation, the intended protective function of MPAs is compromised.

Biodiversity and Economic Impacts in Relation to SDG 14 and SDG 8

1. Threats to Biodiversity (SDG 14): Australian MPAs serve as crucial biodiversity strongholds, supporting populations of whales, sharks, turtles, and other marine life. The loss of ecosystem resilience due to climate change directly threatens this biodiversity, jeopardizing the achievement of Target 14.2 on protecting marine and coastal ecosystems.
2. Economic Repercussions (SDG 8): These marine ecosystems support commercially valuable species, including tuna and billfish. Degradation of these habitats could cause significant disruption to the fisheries sector, impacting sustainable economic activities and livelihoods in alignment with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Policy Recommendations and Future Outlook for Global Goals

• Urgent Emissions Reduction (SDG 13): Researchers advocate for urgent and aggressive global emissions reductions. Current national commitments are considered a positive step but are insufficient to reverse the projected negative trends impacting marine ecosystems.
• Climate-Smart MPA Design (SDG 14): To enhance resilience, it is recommended that future conservation strategies focus on designing “climate-smart MPAs” that are robust and adaptable to future ocean conditions.
• International Cooperation (SDG 17): The findings highlight the necessity of international agreements. The United Nations High Seas Treaty, which facilitates the creation of MPAs in international waters, is presented as a critical mechanism for advancing global marine protection, reflecting the importance of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Conditional Recovery Projections: Even with immediate action, widespread change is considered inevitable. Some marine refuges may begin to recover after 2060, but only if global emissions are drastically curtailed in the near future.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals, primarily focusing on marine conservation, climate change, and international cooperation.

   • SDG 14: Life Below Water

     This is the most central SDG in the article. The text is entirely focused on marine ecosystems, discussing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), the protection of “coral reefs, kelp forests, seagrass beds and mangrove ecosystems,” and the conservation of marine biodiversity, including “whales, sharks, turtles and commercially valuable species such as tuna and billfish.”

   • SDG 13: Climate Action

     The article explicitly links the threats to marine ecosystems to climate change. It states that MPAs were not designed to “withstand a rapidly changing climate” and calls for “urgent and aggressive emissions reductions.” It also mentions Australia’s specific pledge to “cut emissions by 62–70% by 2035,” directly addressing national climate policies.

   • SDG 15: Life on Land

     While the focus is marine, the article mentions the protection of “mangrove ecosystems.” Mangroves are crucial coastal ecosystems that bridge marine and terrestrial environments, making their protection relevant to SDG 15, which includes halting biodiversity loss and protecting ecosystems.

   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

     The article underscores the need for international cooperation to protect marine environments. The mention of the “United Nations High Seas Treaty” as a new international protection mechanism highlights the importance of global partnerships to achieve conservation goals, especially in areas “beyond national waters.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • SDG 14: Life Below Water

     • Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience…” The article directly addresses this by discussing the role of MPAs in protecting ecosystems and warns about the “loss of resilience” in these areas due to climate change. The recommendation to design “climate-smart MPAs” is an action aimed at strengthening resilience.
     • Target 14.5: “By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas…” The article provides a direct statistic related to this target, stating that “MPAs currently encompass around half of Australia’s seven million square kilometres of marine territory,” which is 50%, far exceeding the 10% goal.
     • Target 14.c: “Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law…” The reference to the “United Nations High Seas Treaty” directly relates to this target, as the treaty is an international legal instrument designed to enable the creation of MPAs on the high seas.

   • SDG 13: Climate Action

     • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards…” The article’s focus on the vulnerability of MPAs to a “rapidly changing climate” and the call for “climate-smart MPAs that are robust to future ocean conditions” directly aligns with building resilience and adaptive capacity in marine ecosystems.
     • Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” Australia’s pledge to “cut emissions by 62–70% by 2035” is a clear example of a national policy aimed at mitigating climate change, as called for in this target.

   • SDG 15: Life on Land

     • Target 15.5: “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.” The article describes MPAs as “biodiversity strongholds” that protect various species and ecosystems, including mangroves. The warning that climate change threatens these areas connects directly to the urgency of halting biodiversity loss.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • Indicator for Target 14.5 (Proportion of protected marine areas)

     The article provides a direct quantitative indicator: the percentage of a country’s marine territory designated as MPAs. It states that in Australia, this figure is “around half” or 50% of its seven million square kilometres of marine territory. This is a direct measure for Indicator 14.5.1 (“Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas”).

   • Indicator for Target 13.2 (National climate action)

     A clear indicator mentioned is the national commitment to emissions reduction. The article specifies “Australia’s pledge to cut emissions by 62–70% by 2035.” This serves as a measurable policy commitment to climate action.

   • Indicator for Target 14.c (Implementation of international instruments)

     The article points to an indicator of progress in international law: the status of international treaties. It mentions the “United Nations High Seas Treaty, due to enter into force in January 2026,” which marks a milestone in global ocean governance.

   • Indicator for Target 14.2 (Ecosystem health and resilience)

     While not providing a specific metric, the article implies a qualitative indicator: the resilience of marine ecosystems. The text discusses the “loss of resilience” and the potential for some refuges to “begin to recover after 2060” as measures of ecosystem health in the face of climate change.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 14: Life Below Water	Target 14.5: Conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas.	Proportion of marine territory covered by MPAs (mentioned as “around half of Australia’s seven million square kilometres”).
   SDG 13: Climate Action	Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies.	National emissions reduction commitments (mentioned as “Australia’s pledge to cut emissions by 62–70% by 2035”).
   SDG 14: Life Below Water	Target 14.2: Protect marine and coastal ecosystems and strengthen their resilience.	Health and resilience of marine ecosystems (implied by the “loss of resilience” and the potential to “recover after 2060”).
   SDG 14: Life Below Water & SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	Target 14.c: Implement international law for ocean conservation.	Implementation of international instruments (mentioned as the “United Nations High Seas Treaty, due to enter into force in January 2026”).
   SDG 15: Life on Land	Target 15.5: Halt the loss of biodiversity.	Status of biodiversity strongholds and key ecosystems like mangroves (implied by their protection within MPAs and the threat they face).

Source: oceanographicmagazine.com