Countries should invest in land, ocean conservation to achieve SDGs, says environmentalist

Adeotun Mustapha, an environmental epidemiologist, says countries should invest in sustainable land, ocean, and waste conservation to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

In a statement on Tuesday, Mustapha said it could be difficult to achieve a sustainable ecosystem that supports sustainable living, with about 75 percent of the earth’s surface and oceans “significantly” altered by human activities.

Mustapha called on businesses to focus on new sustainable models with less environmental impact to meet society’s needs.

She also urged countries to ensure ratification of the high seas treaty and prevent the large-scale collapse of nature.

“The dangerous decline in nature is ongoing, and humans are causing it. Seventy-five percent of the Earth’s land surface is significantly altered by human actions, including 85% of wetland areas,” Mustapha said.

“Sixty-six percent of the ocean area is impacted by human activities, including fisheries and pollution.

“Everybody alive now could be the planet’s last hope to slow the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and waste.

“Preventing the large-scale collapse of nature will require effective conservation of more of our land and oceans, and the world delivering on its commitment to restore at least 1 billion hectares of degraded land in the next decade and transform food systems to become more sustainable.

“Nations can invest in sustainable land management and conservation that protect the natural infrastructure of waterways, support organic farming, and collect kitchen waste to use as compost.

“Businesses should focus on new sustainable business models to meet society’s needs with less environmental impact.

“Let us be the generation that finally makes peace with the land.”