A study from Michigan State University (MSU) highlights a significant disparity in sustainability advancements between land and ocean ecosystems, revealing that progress for the latter has stagnated since the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. While high-income countries have made substantial gains in sustainability, low-income nations lag behind, exacerbating global inequalities. This study, published in the journal iScience, emphasizes the imperatives of recognizing the drivers behind successful sustainability initiatives to forge equitable policies. Notably, nations with rich biodiversity, like Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Indonesia, have shown positive outcomes in conservation and resource use on land. However, the oceans have seen little improvement, particularly in preventing marine pollution and fairly allocating economic benefits to smaller developing nations. Research indicates that from 2010 to 2020, global biodiversity efforts advanced both on land and sea, yet the widening gap between affluent and impoverished nations remains concerning. Countries like Croatia saw significant improvements in marine life metrics, while others like Pakistan and Fiji faced declines. The findings underscore the necessity for policymakers to engage deeply with local and national contexts to enhance global biodiversity conservation and sustainable development efforts.
