What are "Sustainable Development Goals" in PlastHealth?

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 interconnected goals adopted in 2015 to address global challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation by 2030. They aim to achieve a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for all people by balancing social, economic, and environmental development through integrated action (more https://sdgs.un.org/goals).

Project PlastHealth is connected to several SDG in direct or non-direct ways. The most important goal is "14: Life Below Water" since the project is focused on marine organisms and ocean waters. Thus, it will bring "Increase scientific knowledge in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity" , as stated in Target 14.a. Since PlastHealth is dealing with microplastic transfer through ecosystem levels with possible transfer to humans, it is also connected to goal "3: Good Health and Well-being" and Target 3.9 : substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from water pollution and contamination. Goal "4: Quality Education" with the Target 4.7 "ensuring that learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development", and "17: Partnerships to achieve SDGs" with the Target 17.4 "Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development" are closely connected since the dissemination and communication of results will be targeting public, students, research community, governmental institutions and stakeholders by organising workshops, presentations, publishing articles and engaging with e.g. European food safety authority and APLM (Portuguese Marine Litter Association). These activities are non-directly connected to several other goals, such as "12: Responsible Consumption and Production" with the Target 12.7 "Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities" and "6: Clean Water and Sanitation" with the Target 6.3"Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally". Finally, PlastHealth can inspire other projects with MPs pollution, for example in freshwaters, this "15: Life on Land" can be another non-direct goal.