The Escalating Climate Crisis and its Challenge to Sustainable Development Goals

The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events, exemplified by 2024 being the hottest year on record, present a significant threat to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Projections of continued record-breaking temperatures over the next five years underscore the urgency of addressing SDG 13 (Climate Action). The direct consequences of this climate crisis, such as the deadly flash floods in Texas, New Mexico, and North Carolina in July 2025, highlight failures in building resilient infrastructure and protecting human life, central tenets of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

The health and economic ramifications of extreme heat are severe and inequitable, challenging progress on multiple SDGs. The 117% increase in heat-related deaths in the U.S. from 1999 to 2023 is a stark indicator of a public health crisis that disproportionately affects marginalized communities. The higher risk of heat-related death among American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black populations points to a critical failure in achieving SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Furthermore, the estimated $1 billion in annual excess healthcare costs and a potential $14.5 trillion economic loss over 50 years threaten the stability targeted by SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Policy reversals at the federal level risk exacerbating these disparities and weakening the institutional capacity required under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) to mount an effective response.

Federal Policy Landscape: A Shifting Commitment to Climate Action and Health Equity

Foundational Efforts and Alignment with Global Goals

Several past administrations established frameworks that align with the SDGs, creating a foundation for climate research and environmental justice.

• President George H.W. Bush: The Global Change Research Act of 1990 created the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and mandated the National Climate Assessment, providing the scientific basis for informed policymaking crucial for SDG 13.
• The Clinton Administration: An Executive Order on Environmental Justice mandated that federal agencies address the disproportionate environmental burdens on minority and low-income populations, a direct effort toward SDG 10.
• The Obama Administration: The creation of the National Integrated Heat and Health Information System (NIHHIS) aimed to enhance community preparedness for extreme heat, supporting SDG 3 and SDG 11.

Conversely, the withdrawal from the Kyoto protocol under the George W. Bush administration represented a significant setback for international cooperation on SDG 13.

The Biden Administration: Advancing an Integrated SDG Agenda

The Biden administration implemented a series of policies aimed at integrating climate action with health and social equity, directly addressing multiple SDGs.

1. Environmental Justice: The “Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All” Executive Order and the creation of the Office of Environmental Justice sought to rectify systemic inequities, advancing SDG 10 and strengthening institutional accountability under SDG 16.
2. Climate and Health Integration: The establishment of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) was a targeted action to protect public health from climate impacts, directly supporting SDG 3.
3. Worker Protections: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a National Emphasis Program and proposed a new rule for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention. These measures are critical for ensuring safe working conditions and promoting SDG 8.
4. Coordinated National Strategy: The launch of Heat.gov and the National Heat Strategy provided a coordinated federal framework to address extreme heat, contributing to SDG 3, SDG 11, and SDG 13.

The Trump Administration: Reversals and their Implications for Sustainable Development

The second Trump administration initiated policy reversals that directly undermine progress on the SDGs by dismantling programs designed to protect vulnerable populations and the environment.

• Erosion of Equity and Poverty Alleviation: The elimination of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and urban forestry grants directly harms low-income communities, setting back progress on SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10.
• Weakening Health and Institutional Capacity: The elimination of OCCHE and severe cuts to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the CDC’s Division of Environmental Health and Science Practice (DEHSP) dismantled critical infrastructure for protecting public health and worker safety, contravening SDG 3, SDG 8, and SDG 16.
• Impeding Climate Action: Executive Orders revoking climate policies and blocking state-level climate initiatives actively work against the goals of SDG 13 and undermine the multi-level governance needed to build resilience under SDG 11. While some staff were later reinstated, the initial actions weakened the nation’s ability to respond to climate-related health threats.

State-Level Responses: A Divided Approach to Climate Resilience and Worker Protection

Proactive States: Championing Climate Action and Social Equity

Numerous states have enacted legislation that advances the SDG agenda by addressing climate change, health equity, and worker safety.

• Climate Accountability and Resilience: States including Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and California have introduced Climate Superfund Bills. These initiatives hold polluters accountable and generate funds for infrastructure projects, supporting SDG 13 and SDG 11.
• Comprehensive Heat Action Plans: New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Arizona have developed plans to build community resilience and protect disadvantaged communities, aligning with SDG 3, SDG 10, and SDG 11.
• Targeted Health Interventions: Thirteen states are using Section 1115 Medicaid waivers to provide access to air conditioning for vulnerable enrollees, a direct measure to improve health outcomes and reduce inequality, in line with SDG 3 and SDG 10.
• Worker Safety Standards: Seven states have implemented comprehensive occupational heat safety standards to protect workers, a key component of achieving SDG 8. These states are:
  1. California
  2. Colorado
  3. Maryland
  4. Minnesota
  5. Nevada
  6. Washington
  7. Oregon

Regressive States: Preempting Local Protections and Exacerbating Inequalities

In stark contrast, Texas and Florida have enacted legislation that prevents local governments from establishing heat protections for outdoor workers. These actions directly contradict the principles of the SDGs.

• Texas House Bill 2127 (“Death Star Bill”): Preempts local ordinances, including those that mandate water breaks and other cooling measures for workers.
• Florida House Bill 433: Prevents city and county governments from requiring employers to provide heat protections beyond minimum state or federal law.

These laws actively undermine efforts to ensure safe working conditions (SDG 8), protect public health (SDG 3), and reduce the disproportionate risks faced by vulnerable worker populations (SDG 10).

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article extensively discusses the health impacts of extreme heat, including a 117% increase in heat-related deaths in the U.S. between 1999 and 2023, the creation of health-focused programs like the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE), and the disproportionate health risks faced by vulnerable populations.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article focuses on the risks to workers in industries like farming and construction, detailing federal and state efforts to establish heat protection standards. It mentions OSHA’s National Emphasis Program and proposed rules requiring employers to provide water, shade, and rest breaks.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  A central theme is the disproportionate effect of extreme heat on specific groups. The article states that “American Indian or Alaska Native and Black people are at higher risk of experiencing a heat-related death” and that rollbacks of environmental protections will likely “widen existing health disparities” affecting “lower income populations, people of color, and immigrants.”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article addresses community resilience to climate events, mentioning deadly flash floods in Texas, New Mexico, and North Carolina. It also discusses solutions like building cooling centers, increasing tree canopy cover through urban forestry programs, and developing “heat-ready infrastructure” as part of state-level Extreme Heat Action Plans.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The entire article is framed by the context of climate change, citing 2024 as the “hottest year ever experienced” and predicting more extreme heat records. It discusses various policies aimed at climate change mitigation and adaptation, such as the National Climate Assessment, state-level Climate Superfund Bills, and the integration of climate change measures into national policy.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article details the role of government institutions in addressing climate and health issues through executive orders, legislation, and dedicated programs. It highlights the creation and subsequent elimination of bodies like the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice and the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, demonstrating the impact of institutional policies on environmental justice.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
     
     This is identified through the discussion of systems like North Carolina’s “Heat Health Alert System” and “Heat-Related Illness Surveillance System,” and the federal development of tools to “track heat-related illnesses.” These are all mechanisms for early warning and risk management.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
     
     This is directly addressed by the article’s focus on occupational safety. It details OSHA’s proposed rule for “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings” and lists seven states (California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon) that have implemented “comprehensive heat protection standards” for workers.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
     
     The article highlights how climate impacts and policies disproportionately affect certain groups. It mentions that environmental justice initiatives and programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) specifically target “communities of color and low income groups,” “minority populations,” and “historically disadvantaged communities.” The reversal of these policies is shown to threaten the inclusion and well-being of these populations.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
     
     This target is relevant to the discussion of “environmental justice” and the creation of executive orders to address the “disproportionate burden of pollution and environmental hazards on communities of color and low income groups.” The elimination of these policies, as described under the Trump administration, represents a setback for this target.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
     
     The article directly references this target by reporting on the “deadly flash floods” in July 2025, which caused “over 100 people” to die in Texas. It also mentions the economic cost of climate change, which could reach “$14.5 trillion over the next fifty years” for the U.S. economy.
   • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.
     
     This is demonstrated by states like New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Arizona releasing “Extreme Heat Action Plans that seek to build community resilience through coordinated government action.” The article also mentions the “Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative” which helped local health departments prepare for climate-related health outcomes.

5. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
     
     The article is replete with examples related to this target, including the creation of the National Integrated Heat and Health Information System (NIHHIS) to “increase community preparedness for extreme heat events,” and state-level Extreme Heat Action Plans designed to “build community resilience.”
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
     
     This is shown through the discussion of federal actions like the Global Change Research Act of 1990, the creation of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), and the Biden administration’s executive order to “elevate climate change as a national security priority.” The reversal of these policies under the Trump administration also speaks to the (de-)integration of climate measures.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Targets 3.d, 11.5, and 13.1 (Health Risks and Disaster Impact)

   • Mortality Rate: The number of heat-related deaths, which increased from 1,069 in 1999 to 2,325 in 2023. The article also mentions “over 100 people dying in the Texas floods.”
   • Health Service Data: The existence of a “national dashboard to track heat-related illness” and state-level “Heat-Related Illness Surveillance System” implies the collection of data on heat-related morbidity.
   • Economic Losses: The estimate that heat events result in “$1 billion in excess health care costs each year” and that climate change could cost the U.S. economy “$14.5 trillion over the next fifty years.”

2. For Target 8.8 (Worker Safety)

   • National and Sub-national Policies: The number of states with comprehensive heat protection standards. The article specifies that “Seven States Have Implemented Occupational Heat Safety Standards” and “Thirteen additional states are in the process of developing their own.”
   • Regulatory Requirements: Specific safety measures required by law, such as the proposed OSHA rule mandating “cool drinking water, shade, and more rest breaks once the heat index reached 90 degrees.”

3. For Target 10.2 (Reduced Inequalities)

   • Disaggregated Data: The analysis showing that “American Indian or Alaska Native and Black people are at higher risk of experiencing a heat-related death compared to their White counterparts.” This comparative data serves as an indicator of inequality.
   • Targeted Programs: The existence and funding levels of programs aimed at vulnerable groups, such as the “Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program” and the USDA’s “urban forestry program” for low-income communities. Their elimination is a negative indicator.

4. For Targets 11.b and 13.2 (Policy and Planning)

   • Adoption of Strategies: The number of states that have released “Extreme Heat Action Plans” or “Climate Superfund Bills.”
   • Existence of Government Bodies: The establishment or elimination of key institutional bodies, such as the “Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE)” and the “Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kff.org