On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development officially came into force.  With these interconnected Goals, 193 Member States of the United Nations are mobilizing efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities, tackle climate change and address many other key sustainability objectives such as protecting life below water.

Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in 2015 at a historic UN Summit, the Global Day to #Act4SDGs marks the anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals on 25th September. This year's Global Day to #Act4SDGs coincides with the end of Project AWARE's first global AWARE Week - a full week of conservation activities and actions for a clean and healthy ocean in partnership with PADI® - the world's leading scuba diver training organization.

As the world celebrates the 3rd Anniversary of the historic adoption of the 2030 Agenda, we urge you to live every week like it's AWARE Week to accelerate efforts to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and #SDG14 “Life Below Water” in particular - Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development. 

After reaching the milestone of removing 1 million pieces of marine debris from dive sites across the world in 2018, we reaffirm our commitment to mobilizing a global community of dive leaders and debris activists to remove the next million by the end of 2020. For the SDGs to be achieved, everyone needs to take action, fins on and fins off. #Act4SDGs and live every week like it's AWARE week! Join the global movement. Every dive, every adventure, every action count.

Project AWARE's #Act4SDGs Ocean Actions

#OceanAction17638: Addressing the global marine debris crisis from an underwater perspective - citizen science and community engagement for a global solution.

We recognize the power of our community to fill a void in the types and quantities of marine debris found in the ocean. Project AWARE is committed to mobilizing scuba divers to remove, record and report marine debris found underwater and bridge a gap in knowledge to affect change.

#OceanAction17226: Safeguarding Sharks and Rays of the Atlantic and Mediterranean through RFMOs

Sharks and rays are being seriously overfished. The sharks and rays of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea are in real trouble. Working with our partners, Shark Advocates International, The Shark Trust, and Ecology Action Centre, we’re committed to ensuring their future.

#OceanAction14840: Tackling abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear at a global scale - a multi-stakeholder partnership

Ghost gear is by far, the deadliest form of marine debris. As a member of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, we’re committed to protecting ocean health and productivity from the harmful effects of lost and abandoned fishing gear.

Restoring the ocean is critical; not only from an environmental perspective but also because ocean health is vital to employment, well-being, and livelihoods around the world. While SDG 14 is the only goal focused on life below water, other Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN Members States in 2015 also depend on or influence ocean health.

Be part of ocean history with Project AWARE as we work towards the #NextMillion2020 for a clean ocean. Follow us on Twitter @projectaware to join in the online conversation about #SDG14: “Life Below Water” and invest in a sustainable future for the ocean today.