SDG 13

Chapter 3: Climate Action (SDG 13)

• The chapter focuses on climate action, a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
• The presenter is Prof. Dr. Sandhya Babel, from the School of Bio-Chemical Engineering & Technology, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University.

Rising Natural Disasters

• The number of natural disasters globally has risen significantly since 1980.
• The data, collected by Munich Re, shows increases in hydrological, meteorological, and geophysical events.
• There has been significant growth of natural disasters globally.

Specific Disaster Events

• Ubon floods in Thailand were the worst in history in 2022, impacting economic activities.
• Flooding in Jakarta, Indonesia, worsened over a decade, according to news reports.
• Over 2,000 people died in Spain and Portugal as a result of a heat wave in 2022, demonstrating unprecedented heat waves in Europe.
• Australia experienced devastating bushfires described as an apocalypse, on Kangaroo Island in a recent example.

Natural Disasters - Underlying Causes

• The presentation uses images of floods, wildfires, storms and other disasters to emphasize the severity of the problem.

Climate Change Definition

• Climate change is defined as a significant change in measures of climate (like temperature, rainfall, and wind), lasting for an extended period (decades or more).
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ireland provides this definition.

What is Different This Time?

• Earth's climate has changed many times throughout its history, cycling through ice ages and warm periods.
• What's unique about the current period is substantial human influence contributing to natural climate change. This includes population growth, industrialization (150 years of industry based on fossil fuels) and economic growth.

Greenhouse Effect Definition

• The glass or plastic walls of a greenhouse trap heat.
• Similarly, greenhouse gases (like CO2 and methane) in the Earth's atmosphere allow sunlight in but trap heat, warming the planet.

Greenhouse Effect

• Earth's climate is warming at an unprecedented rate.
• The main driver of this global warming is the greenhouse effect.
• This effect is caused by the increasing levels of greenhouse gases (e.g. CO2) in the atmosphere.
• The increase in greenhouse gases is directly related to consumption of fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas, and the burning of fuels in cars, factories and power plants.

Evidence Supporting Global Warming

• NOAA's 2020 Global Climate Report documents past climate change and predicts future changes.
• Average global surface temperature has increased by 1.28°C between 1970 and 2020.
• The 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 2010.
• Greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 90% since 1970 and 2020.
• Changes in glaciers, patterns of rainfall, hurricanes and sea level rise are observed. Sea level rose 4-8 inches (10-20cm) in the last century as ice melted and ocean expanded.

Melting Glaciers

• Melting glaciers, particularly in areas like Muir Glacial National Park, Alaska, are demonstrably happening.
• Global sea-level data shows a clear upward trend.

Causes of Climate Change

• Natural and human activity.
• The following are the main human activities contributing to rapid climate change:
  • Burning fossil fuels for energy production and transportation
  • Deforestation (cutting down trees) leading to the release of more carbon dioxide.
  • Reduction of biodiversity weakens ecosystems' ability to capture excess carbon and cope with climate change.

Other Key Causes

• The graphic presentation emphasizes the role of combustion, deforestation, industrial emissions, fertilizer use, and animal agriculture as contributing factors to climate change.

Who Does Climate Change Affect?

• In the long term, climate change affects everyone.
• Wealthy countries, due to historic contributions to emissions, have more capacity to protect themselves.
• Poorer countries, who have contributed less, are typically the most affected by climate change impacts, as they usually have less capacity adapt to climate change. Countries that have contributed the least to climate change are the ones most affected.

Climate Change Problems - Impacts

• Shifts in agricultural zones.
• Changes in water supply quality and availability. 
• Extinction of species and loss of habitats.
• Increased intensity and frequency of severe weather events (like hurricanes, flooding, droughts).
• Coastal flooding and erosion.
• Impacts on human health
• Rising sea levels
• Increased likelihood of floods

Governmental Action

• Governments should regulate greenhouse gas emissions, subsidize energy efficient technologies and implement international agreements to curb emissions.

Ways to Prepare for Climate Change

• Implement strategies, such as moving hazardous materials away from coastal areas, stockpiling food supplies, and relocating vulnerable populations.

Climate Action Solutions (SDG 13)

• The presentation underlines the importance of taking urgent actions to combat climate change and to strengthen resilience to climate related disasters.