Sustainable Development and Climate Change

What is sustainable development? What do we understand by climate change? What does sustainable mean in climate change? Let’s understand.

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, but without compromising the ability of future generation’s needs. This is most well-known and understood definition of sustainable development.

Climate change can be understood as change in temperature and weather pattern over an area over the period of time.

Changes in climatic condition are caused by natural and anthropogenic reasons. Natural influences on the climate include volcanic eruptions, changes in the Earth’s orbit, and shifting of tectonic plates. Anthropogenic reasons are consequence of over-exploitation of natural resources, unprecedented burning of fossil fuels etc. Today climate change is mostly caused by excess of production of greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise.

How to tackle Climate change?

There is no diet or pill for the climate change. Effects of climate change can be tackled through adoption of cleaner and greener ways of life.

How can sustainable development help us fight climate change?

Sustainable development is one of the ways of tackle climate change. Sustainable development can help us fight climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and increasing energy efficiency, while also promoting economic growth. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), broadly encompass social, economic, and environmental dimensions. The 17 SDGs aim to improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. India has been making progress in achieving the SDGs' social, economic, and environmental objectives. This accomplishment is all the more impressive in light of the high human and financial costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused serious obstruction to the global achievement of the SDGs and caused countries to fall behind in their developmental goals.

Following are the Sustainable development Goals that covers action plan to tackle the threat of climate change:

GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

GOAL 13: Climate Action GOAL 14: Life Below Water

GOAL 15: Life on Land

GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

About the author

Aruj Jindal

I am student of business. I write about the Indian economy, share markets, multilateral organisations and related topics.