Post-Sandy, NYC must limit coastal development – New York Daily News

We, New Yorkers, have weathered countless storms — both literal and metaphorical — and emerged stronger.

But we face a growing climate crisis that requires more than just resiliency. On this 12th anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, we are reminded that climate chaos will yield even more impactful climate change in the coming decades. With sea levels likely to rise by six feet by 2100, and frequent, devastating storms becoming the norm, New York City must rethink how and where we build along our vulnerable coastlines.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. They aim to address the world’s most pressing challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation. These goals provide a framework for countries and organizations to work towards a more sustainable future.

SDGs and Climate Change

Climate change is a critical issue that directly impacts several of the SDGs. Goal 13 specifically focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. By addressing climate change, we can also contribute to achieving other goals such as ending poverty (Goal 1), ensuring clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), and promoting sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11).

Rethinking Coastal Development

In light of the growing climate crisis, it is crucial for New York City to rethink its approach to coastal development. By considering the SDGs, the city can ensure that its development plans align with sustainable practices and contribute to a more resilient future.

1. Assess Vulnerability: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the city’s vulnerable coastlines to identify areas at high risk of climate impacts.
2. Integrate Climate Resilience: Incorporate climate resilience measures into the design and construction of coastal infrastructure to withstand future storms and sea level rise.
3. Promote Sustainable Building Practices: Encourage the use of sustainable building materials and energy-efficient designs to reduce the environmental impact of coastal development.
4. Protect Natural Resources: Preserve and restore coastal ecosystems, such as wetlands and dunes, to provide natural buffers against storm surges and enhance biodiversity.
5. Engage Local Communities: Involve local communities in the decision-making process and ensure their voices are heard in coastal development plans.

Conclusion

New York City must prioritize sustainable coastal development to address the growing climate crisis. By aligning its efforts with the SDGs, the city can build resilience, protect vulnerable communities, and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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

• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article highlights the climate crisis and the need for New York City to rethink its approach to building along vulnerable coastlines. This aligns with SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Additionally, it connects to SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

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

• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
• SDG 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 emphasizes the need for New York City to strengthen its resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters, which aligns with SDG 13.1. It also mentions the importance of reducing the number of deaths, people affected, and economic losses caused by disasters, specifically water-related disasters, which relates to SDG 11.5.

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

• Indicator for SDG 13.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected people attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
• Indicator for SDG 11.5: Direct economic losses in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) caused by disasters, including water-related disasters

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators, but it implies the need to measure the number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected people attributed to disasters per 100,000 population to track progress towards SDG 13.1. Additionally, it suggests measuring the direct economic losses in relation to global GDP caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, to assess progress towards SDG 11.5.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nydailynews.com