On October 31, the Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST) announced that it published “Our Sustainable Ocean,” a guidebook on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and held a book publication ceremony. This guidebook, published in cooperation with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, addresses the topic of “Life Below Water,” which is the theme of the 14th of the 17 SDGs.

 The 17 SDGs^* are common goals of mankind that the international community has pledged to achieve by the year 2030 based on the three pillars of social development, economic growth, and environmental conservation. The goals were established in 2015 by the 70th United Nations General Assembly.

* Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): ① No Poverty, ② Zero Hunger, ③ Good Health and Well-being, ④ Quality Education, ⑤ Gender Equality, ⑥ Clean Water and Sanitation, ⑦ Affordable and Clean Energy, ⑧ Decent Work and Economic Growth, ⑨ Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, ⑩ Reducing Inequality, ⑪ Sustainable Cities and Communities, ⑫ Responsible Consumption and Production, ⑬ Climate Action, ⑭ Life Below Water, ⑮ Life On Land, ？ Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and ？ Partnerships for the Goals

 Since the establishment of the SDGs, countries and major international organizations and corporations around the world have been developing and implementing plans to achieve the aims of the SDGs, depending on their circumstances. As Korea’s top authority in marine science and technology, KIOST leveraged its accumulated experience and research results to publish the guidebook, which it hopes will serve as an easy-to-understand guide for the general public.

 Covering various topics, the chapters of the guidebook are: Our Sustainable Sea (Kim Woong-seo, KIOST); Fisheries (Jeong Seok-geun, Professor at Jeju National University); Plastic Age, Plastic Sea (Lee Jong-myung, Director at Our Sea of East Asia Network OSEAN); Ocean Acidification (Kim Tae-uk, Professor at Korea University); Marine Ecosystems and Marine Conservation Zones (Nam Jeong-ho, Researcher at Korea Maritime Institue); International Law for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Ocean and Marine Resources (Lee Yong-hee, Professor at Korea Maritime and Ocean University); and Efforts of the International Community to Create Sustainable Oceans (Lee Yun-ho, KIOST).

 At the book publication ceremony, which was held during the Autumn Conference of the Korean Society of Oceanography, President Kim Woong-seo said, “The publication of this guidebook will make it easier for the public to understand the SDGs, especially the 14th goal of ‘Life Below Water,’ and make more efficient use of related data.” He then added, “We will continue to publish marine science publications that appeal to the interests of people based on the work of KIOST’s researchers.