Before the UN Sustainable Development Goals: A Historical Companion

Chapter 14 of this book provides a historical overview of the policy fields behind each Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), revealing the legacies and complexities of past efforts to address sustainable development challenges. Written by international experts from various disciplines, the book is a valuable resource for understanding the historical roots of contemporary SDG challenges.

Format: Hardback
Length: 576 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Before the UN Sustainable Development Goals, professionals, scholars, and students engaged with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can develop a more profound understanding of the legacies and historical complexities of the policy fields behind each goal. Each of the seventeen chapters tells the decades- or centuries-old backstory of one SDG and reveals the global human connections, governance tools and frameworks, and the actors involved in past efforts to address sustainable development challenges. Collectively, the seventeen chapters build a historical latticework that reveals the multiple and often interwoven sources that have shaped the challenges later encompassed in the SDGs. Engaging and insightfully written, the book's chapters are authored by international experts from multiple disciplines. The book is an indispensable resource and a vital foundation for understanding the past's indelible footprint on our contemporary sustainable development challenges.

Introduction:
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals set by the United Nations in 2015 to address the world's most pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. These goals are designed to promote sustainable development, achieve poverty eradication, protect the environment, and ensure social justice for all.

Chapter 14:
Chapter 14 of the book focuses on the historical background and legacy of Sustainable Development Goal 14, which aims to "conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development." This goal is particularly important as the oceans play a critical role in regulating the Earth's climate, providing food and livelihood to millions of people, and supporting economic growth.

Chapter 14's Key Features:
The chapter begins by providing a historical overview of the development of the oceans and seas as a resource for human use. It highlights the importance of the oceans in shaping human history, culture, and society. It also discusses the various challenges that the oceans face, such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change.

The chapter then explores the global human connections and governance tools and frameworks that have been developed to address these challenges. It discusses the role of international organizations, such as the United Nations, in setting policies and regulations to protect the oceans and promote sustainable use. It also highlights the importance of local communities and indigenous peoples in managing and preserving marine resources.

Finally, the chapter discusses the actors involved in past efforts to address sustainable development challenges related to the oceans. It highlights the contributions of scientists, researchers, policymakers, and activists in developing and implementing solutions to protect the oceans and promote sustainable use.

Conclusion:
Chapter 14 of the book provides a valuable insight into the historical background and legacy of Sustainable Development Goal 14. It highlights the importance of the oceans as a resource for human use and the various challenges that they face. It also explores the global human connections and governance tools and frameworks that have been developed to address these challenges. Finally, it discusses the actors involved in past efforts to address sustainable development challenges related to the oceans and highlights the contributions of scientists, researchers, policymakers, and activists in developing and implementing solutions.

Weight: 998g
Dimension: 240 x 165 x 41 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192848758