Page 5 - SDGs - An imperative for climate action
P. 5
SDGs
AN IMPERATIVE FOR
CLIMATE ACTION
TERI Report SDG Footprint of Asian NDCs, 2017, Kyoto Protocol and the USA from endorsing the Paris
assesses the following: Agreement. Even though such changes over the years
have hampered meeting climate targets, these extreme
w Navigating development path through climate risks activities by Parties demonstrate that nations take
climate targets, deadlines, and negotiations relatively
w Synergizing climate action and sustainable more seriously.
development policies
This begs the question, is action for climate change
w The explicit recognition of the NDC–SDG linkage stronger than action for sustainable development?
Despite the inclusive nature of the negotiations
w SDG footprint of select NDCs process in the lead up to the formulation of the 2030
development agenda, their implementation and
Moving forward from MDGs, the SDGs have been integration in national policy remains to be seen. A
created as a far more comprehensive world development policy brief by IIED, 2016, states that ‘often there are
agenda in 2015, which not only address the powerful structural and hidden barriers to broadening
development prerogatives of the developing and least- the use of sustainable development in planning
developed nations but also to address the challenges and policymaking.’ Broader national development
faced by developed nations till 2030 through 17 goals plans may integrate sustainable development at their
and 169 targets. An example that shows this nature of core, whereas policy priorities may guide a fiscal or
the SDGs is target 12.3,4 which encompasses actions for economically-beneficial action. On the other hand, the
both developed and developing nations. The individual climate debate has gained political interest as well as
Goal 13 on climate change shows that the Post-2030 drive in national and at international forums. One key
Development Agenda as a whole has the capacity to reason perhaps is the urgency demonstrated through
address climate actions comprehensively and actions scientific studies and broad agreement on global
for climate change and sustainable development go warming, while another could be that the global climate
hand in hand. Key messages from UN’s Climate Change agreements are treaties and taken more seriously by
Secretariat to policymakers in 2016 referred to the nations. Additionally, mitigating climate change has
Paris Agreement as historic, where reducing poverty, very specific actions involved, such as transitioning
securing food, water, health, energy, and livelihoods to renewable energy systems and reducing emissions
are contingent to mitigation and adaptation efforts.5 from various sectors that creates new futures markets,
This shows that the Paris Agreement looks to address while adopting measures to reduce vulnerabilities.
multiple sectors, which goes on to demonstrate that
both SDGs and the climate agenda take care of multi- Although complex in comparison with sustainable
dimensional requirements of the globe. Since SDGs development, climate actions required by nations can
over-archingly include a goal on climate change be said to be more streamlined. This may provide an
and most other sectors that are needed for global edge to implementing action for climate change when
development, SDGs prove to be a rather comprehensive compared with implementing sustainable development
mechanism. activities. Further, implementing climate actions has
more secure funding sources both at national and
Where MDGs were top-down and nations reported global level with commitments from nations, multi-
on progress yearly, the SDG formulation process was lateral banks, and climate funds. In contrast, sustainable
a five-year-long consultative process with nations development is expected to be primarily funded
providing inputs to an inter-governmental Open through internal national resources, thereby becoming
Working Group(OWG) at the UN, culminating in the an intrinsic part of national budgeting, and Oversees
launch of the SDGs at the end of 2015. The climate Development Aid (ODA) is mostly available to least
debate has seen multiple negotiations over the years developed nations. Though the ODA for sustainable
with changes in protocols and treaties based on development increased to 0.32% of Gross National
international political, economic conditions and in Income of member countries of the UN in 2017 as
particular the views of the global North and South. per the report on progress of SDG 17 on means of
However, the climate debate has seen several nations implementation and partnerships, this may still prove
bow out of commitments including Canada from the to be substantially inadequate for developing and
underdeveloped nations.
4 By 2030, halve the per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer
levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including Which brings us back to the cause and case of
post-harvest losses. implementation of the Principle of Common but
5 Other messages to policymakers in 2016 by the UN Climate Change
Secretariat specifically urged countries to introduce national policies and
related instruments to lower emissions; provide finance, technology, and
capacity support urgently; strengthen institutions; and use UNFCCC to scale
up cooperative action.
3
AN IMPERATIVE FOR
CLIMATE ACTION
TERI Report SDG Footprint of Asian NDCs, 2017, Kyoto Protocol and the USA from endorsing the Paris
assesses the following: Agreement. Even though such changes over the years
have hampered meeting climate targets, these extreme
w Navigating development path through climate risks activities by Parties demonstrate that nations take
climate targets, deadlines, and negotiations relatively
w Synergizing climate action and sustainable more seriously.
development policies
This begs the question, is action for climate change
w The explicit recognition of the NDC–SDG linkage stronger than action for sustainable development?
Despite the inclusive nature of the negotiations
w SDG footprint of select NDCs process in the lead up to the formulation of the 2030
development agenda, their implementation and
Moving forward from MDGs, the SDGs have been integration in national policy remains to be seen. A
created as a far more comprehensive world development policy brief by IIED, 2016, states that ‘often there are
agenda in 2015, which not only address the powerful structural and hidden barriers to broadening
development prerogatives of the developing and least- the use of sustainable development in planning
developed nations but also to address the challenges and policymaking.’ Broader national development
faced by developed nations till 2030 through 17 goals plans may integrate sustainable development at their
and 169 targets. An example that shows this nature of core, whereas policy priorities may guide a fiscal or
the SDGs is target 12.3,4 which encompasses actions for economically-beneficial action. On the other hand, the
both developed and developing nations. The individual climate debate has gained political interest as well as
Goal 13 on climate change shows that the Post-2030 drive in national and at international forums. One key
Development Agenda as a whole has the capacity to reason perhaps is the urgency demonstrated through
address climate actions comprehensively and actions scientific studies and broad agreement on global
for climate change and sustainable development go warming, while another could be that the global climate
hand in hand. Key messages from UN’s Climate Change agreements are treaties and taken more seriously by
Secretariat to policymakers in 2016 referred to the nations. Additionally, mitigating climate change has
Paris Agreement as historic, where reducing poverty, very specific actions involved, such as transitioning
securing food, water, health, energy, and livelihoods to renewable energy systems and reducing emissions
are contingent to mitigation and adaptation efforts.5 from various sectors that creates new futures markets,
This shows that the Paris Agreement looks to address while adopting measures to reduce vulnerabilities.
multiple sectors, which goes on to demonstrate that
both SDGs and the climate agenda take care of multi- Although complex in comparison with sustainable
dimensional requirements of the globe. Since SDGs development, climate actions required by nations can
over-archingly include a goal on climate change be said to be more streamlined. This may provide an
and most other sectors that are needed for global edge to implementing action for climate change when
development, SDGs prove to be a rather comprehensive compared with implementing sustainable development
mechanism. activities. Further, implementing climate actions has
more secure funding sources both at national and
Where MDGs were top-down and nations reported global level with commitments from nations, multi-
on progress yearly, the SDG formulation process was lateral banks, and climate funds. In contrast, sustainable
a five-year-long consultative process with nations development is expected to be primarily funded
providing inputs to an inter-governmental Open through internal national resources, thereby becoming
Working Group(OWG) at the UN, culminating in the an intrinsic part of national budgeting, and Oversees
launch of the SDGs at the end of 2015. The climate Development Aid (ODA) is mostly available to least
debate has seen multiple negotiations over the years developed nations. Though the ODA for sustainable
with changes in protocols and treaties based on development increased to 0.32% of Gross National
international political, economic conditions and in Income of member countries of the UN in 2017 as
particular the views of the global North and South. per the report on progress of SDG 17 on means of
However, the climate debate has seen several nations implementation and partnerships, this may still prove
bow out of commitments including Canada from the to be substantially inadequate for developing and
underdeveloped nations.
4 By 2030, halve the per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer
levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including Which brings us back to the cause and case of
post-harvest losses. implementation of the Principle of Common but
5 Other messages to policymakers in 2016 by the UN Climate Change
Secretariat specifically urged countries to introduce national policies and
related instruments to lower emissions; provide finance, technology, and
capacity support urgently; strengthen institutions; and use UNFCCC to scale
up cooperative action.
3
