What are Sustainable Development Goals?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also known as Global Goals are a 15 year developmental plan proposed by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the earth and ensure peace and prosperity everywhere. The goals are set in such a way that the UN aims to achieve by the end of 2030. There are 17 SDGs that integrated and believe these actions will affect every corner of the earth, thus keeping in mind the social, economic and environmental sustainability. In adopting the agenda, countries resolved to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. Reaching the goals requires action on all fronts – governments, businesses, civil society and people everywhere all have a role to play as well as creative, technological, research and financial resources from each country.
The Importance of Climate Change in SDGs
According to the yearly reports submitted on the progress of the global goals, it has been found that there are some areas that are progressing slowly as compared others and may not reach the targeted result by 2030. The report takes stock of the progress made on the 17 Global Goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and notably on SDG 13 on climate action, inviting all stakeholders to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. A large number of countries are proposing and implementing national plans to tackle climate change and climatic disasters and have been successful so far in handling or preventing the worst. But there is also a need to step up the efforts and come up with a better call to action in order to reach sustainable development goals by 2030.
Climate change is the single most threat to sustainable development since it affects the most vulnerable parts of our earth especially the ecosystem that we so strongly depend on for our own survival. Urgent action to halt climate change and deal with its impacts is integral to successfully achieving all Sustainable Development Goals.
There are three agendas which were proposed post 2015 namely the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction that focus solely on handling rising temperature and achieving low carbon, resilient development in the changing climate. These agendas aim to bring all countries together and work together to reduce greenhouse gas emission and chemical output by heavy manufacturing industries and increase the resilience of each country to handle the severe impacts of climate change and to provide extra support to the developing countries.
Urgent action is required from all countries to sufficiently combat the rising threats of climate change and save our ecosystem before it is too late. As well as setting the wider development agenda for the world, it could also bolster the UN’s efforts to tackle climate change through a new climate agreement. Climate change threatens our very existence and we cannot aim to eradicate poverty and hope for world peace if the earth is dying. Climate change should take topmost priority when it comes to sustainable development because we are a part of this changing ecosystem.
Donate Your Sweat supports UN’s brilliant initiative to work for a sustainable world and encourages you to spread awareness regarding this campaign to make the world a better place by 2030.
