He’s standing up for the coral reefs … with his violin – Deseret News

Report on the “Music for the Ocean” Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Leveraging Artistic Talent for Marine Conservation

Composer and violinist Chad Cannon has launched “Music for the Ocean,” a multimedia concert initiative designed to raise public awareness and support for the conservation of shallow-water coral reefs. This project directly addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, primarily SDG 14: Life Below Water, by using the arts as a platform for environmental advocacy. The initiative seeks to highlight the urgent need to protect and restore marine ecosystems threatened by climate change and pollution.

Catalyst for Action: Climate Impact and Environmental Awareness

Personal Experience with Climate-Related Disaster

The impetus for this project stemmed from Mr. Cannon’s direct experience with the Eaton fire in California. This event serves as a stark example of the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters, a key concern of SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The fire, which caused significant structural and economic damage, shifted Mr. Cannon’s perspective towards environmental fragility and the importance of proactive conservation efforts.

Discovery of Marine Ecosystem Degradation

Following the fire, Mr. Cannon engaged in scuba diving, leading to a firsthand understanding of the critical condition of coral reefs. This experience underscored the severe impacts of global warming and pollution on marine biodiversity. His observations align with the targets of SDG 14, which calls for the sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.

• He was inspired by the work of marine biologist Juli Berwald, author of “Life on the Rocks.”
• He witnessed the contrast between healthy and dead reefs during dives in Honduras, reinforcing the urgency of the situation.

Initiative Details: “Music for the Ocean” Concert

Program Overview

The “Music for the Ocean” concert is a multimedia performance featuring Chad Cannon on violin and Hui Wu on piano. The event combines original musical compositions with visual elements to create an immersive experience that communicates the beauty of and threats to marine life. Performances are scheduled for public audiences at educational institutions, such as the Waterford School.

Objectives and Contribution to Global Goals

The primary objectives of the concert series are directly linked to several SDGs:

1. Raise Awareness (SDG 14): To inform the public about the critical role of coral reefs, which support a quarter of all marine life, and the threats they face.
2. Promote Climate Action (SDG 13): To educate audiences on the connection between climate change, rising sea temperatures, and coral bleaching.
3. Foster Quality Education (SDG 4): To use an artistic medium as an educational tool for environmental literacy and stewardship.
4. Encourage Partnerships (SDG 17): To build a coalition of artists, scientists, and the public to advocate for a common environmental cause.

Strategic Partnerships and Professional Background

Collaboration for Sustainable Development

In line with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, Mr. Cannon has established a collaboration with the nonprofit organization Tela Coral, co-founded by marine biologist Juli Berwald. This partnership between the arts and science sectors exemplifies a multi-stakeholder approach to addressing complex environmental challenges. By channeling his professional platform, Mr. Cannon is mobilizing support for scientific conservation work.

Artist Profile

Mr. Cannon’s distinguished career provides a significant platform for this advocacy work. His professional background includes:

• Education at Harvard University and The Juilliard School.
• An Emmy nomination for his work as a composer.
• Contributions to an Academy Award-winning documentary, “American Factory.”

This professional standing lends credibility and visibility to the “Music for the Ocean” initiative and its mission to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

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

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters. The article highlights the impact of the Eaton fire, a natural disaster that “destroying 7,000 structures and causing $27.5 billion in damages,” directly addressing the goal of reducing economic losses from such events.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article’s mention of the devastating Eaton fire, which forced residents to vacate their homes, connects to the need for resilience against climate-related hazards like wildfires.
• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. Chad Cannon’s multimedia concert, “Music for the Ocean,” is an initiative designed to “raise awareness about the plight of shallow-water coral reefs,” which are threatened by “global warming.” This directly contributes to public education and awareness on the impacts of climate change.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds. The article explicitly states that coral reefs are in “serious trouble” due to “global warming and pollution,” identifying pollution as a key threat that needs to be addressed.
• Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration. The central theme of the article is the preservation of coral reefs. Cannon’s passion is “doing what he can to help preserve the coral reefs,” which “provide habitat for a quarter of all sea life.” His observation of a “completely dead reef” underscores the urgency of protecting these vital ecosystems.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article describes a partnership between an individual artist (Chad Cannon) and a civil society organization (the nonprofit Tela Coral, co-founded by marine biologist Juli Berwald). This collaboration uses art and public performance to support a common sustainability goal.

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

Indicators for SDG 11 & SDG 13

• Direct economic loss from disasters: The article provides specific data for measuring the impact of the Eaton fire, stating it caused “$27.5 billion in damages.” This figure is a direct indicator of economic loss (related to Indicator 11.5.2).
• Number of structures damaged or destroyed by disasters: The article quantifies the fire’s impact by noting it was “destroying 7,000 structures.” This serves as a tangible measure of a disaster’s physical impact on a community.

Indicators for SDG 14

• Health and status of coral reefs: The article implies a qualitative indicator for reef health through Cannon’s personal observations. He contrasts “really healthy and amazing” reefs with a “completely dead reef” where “everything was gone but one or two sponges.” This points to coral coverage and biodiversity as key measures of ecosystem health (related to Indicator 14.2.1).

Indicators for SDG 17

• Formation of civil society partnerships: The existence of the collaboration between Chad Cannon and the nonprofit Tela Coral is itself an indicator of a partnership being formed to address a sustainability issue. The “Music for the Ocean” concert is a tangible outcome and a measure of this partnership’s activity.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: deseret.com