Resilience: The Global Adaptation Podcast – UNEP

Ever wondered how we can beat the climate crisis?

Welcome to RESILIENCE, the podcast that brings you inspiring stories from people all over the world who are adapting to climate change in practical, creative, and innovative ways. We’ve all heard the doom and gloom, but this podcast is about looking forward as we explore the best solutions and cutting-edge technologies for building resilience to climate change.

In each episode, you’ll hear the world’s greatest climate experts talk about the hottest topics – how award-winning African architects are changing the future of climate-resilient buildings, the use of artificial intelligence to help farmers grow food in tough conditions, and the power of forests in protecting people against the impacts of extreme weather.

This podcast is brought to you by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Join us as we adapt to climate change one conversation at a time…

Introducing Resilience: The Global Adaptation Podcast

Episode 1: Saving Lives

Lis and Marcus explore how investing in adaptation makes both economic sense and helps save the lives of millions of people faced with climate catastrophe. Professor Patrick Verkooijen joins from the Rotterdam-based Global Center on Adaptation which, as the largest floating office in the world, is a potent example of adaptation. And Rohey Ceesay, a forestry officer in the Gambia, talks about how she uses drama and music to spread crucial messages and early warnings about deadly storms.

Episode 2: Protecting Coasts & Small Islands

Lis and Marcus find out about some really creative and practical solutions to the climate threats faced by coastal communities and people living on low-lying small islands. Eritai Kateibwi, from the Te Maeu Project, talks about introducing hydroponics to Kiribati so his community can grow food without monthly ‘king’ tides washing away their crops. And world-renowned Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, who specializes in climate-resilient architecture, talks about floating cities and building flood barriers that double as parks, skateboard ramps, and bike storage – drawing on a concept known as ‘hedonistic sustainability.’

Episode 3: Crisis & the Green Recovery

Lis and Marcus are joined by Koko Warner from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to discuss the parallels between tackling the Covid pandemic and building resilience to climate change. But also, what can we expect at the upcoming COP26 climate summit in Glasgow? Kobie Brand, the Africa regional director of the global cities network ICLEI, shares her lessons on the speed and power of collective action from living through ‘Day Zero’ – the time when Cape Town nearly ran out of water.

Episode 4: When Cities Adapt

Lis and Marcus discuss what their ideal climate-resilient cities would look and feel like – and Kobie Brand, the Africa regional director of the global cities network ICLEI, is back to talk about the exciting innovations happening in African cities, including the use of the Minecraft video game to map out climate adaptation strategies in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. And coffee farmer Hector Velasquez explains his crucial role in supporting San Salvador’s ambitions to become a ‘sponge’ city.

Episode 5: The Race for Climate-proof Food

Lis and Marcus consider one of the most critical issues in adaptation: how to build more climate-resilient food supplies. Eduardo Mansur, the FAO’s Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Environment, talks about drought-resilient food production, biotechnology, and insect farming. And Louise Mabulo talks about how she founded the Cacao Project in the Philippines to help farmers carve out sustainable, shockproof livelihoods.

Episode 6: Nature-based Solutions

Lis and Marcus are joined by Musonda Mumba, a wetlands ecologist and the director of the Rome Centre for Sustainable Development, to discuss the vital role that nature and ecosystems play in helping us adapt to climate change. And in the Seychelles, biologist Victorin Laboudallon explains why mangroves are a ‘super-solution’, protecting both the land and the sea, and keeping us safe from the effects of climate change.

* The views expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the UN Environment Programme

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

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

• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that address climate change, adaptation, and resilience, as well as other related social and environmental issues.

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

• SDG 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social, and environmental shocks and disasters.
• SDG 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
• SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• SDG 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.
• SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
• SDG 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
• 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.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• SDG 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience and take action for their restoration to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
• SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
• SDG 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries.

The article’s content relates to specific targets under the identified SDGs, which focus on poverty reduction, sustainable agriculture, health, gender equality, water and sanitation, renewable energy, infrastructure development, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, marine and coastal conservation, terrestrial ecosystem conservation, and global partnerships.

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

• Indicator 1.5.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Indicator 2.4.1: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture.
• Indicator 3.9.2: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
• Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments.
• Indicator 6.4.2: Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources.
• Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.
• Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within two kilometers of an all-season road.
• Indicator 11.5.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.
• Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.
• Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

The article implies or indirectly refers to indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets, such as indicators related to disaster impacts, sustainable agriculture, air pollution, gender representation, water stress, renewable energy, infrastructure accessibility, marine ecosystem management, forest conservation, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: unep.org