Report on Key Environmental Concepts and Their Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13: Climate Action

Achieving Climate Action requires a comprehensive understanding of global climate systems and the impacts of long-term changes. Key concepts central to this goal include:

• Climate: The long-term weather conditions typical of an area, which are now undergoing significant global shifts.
• Climate Change: This refers to the significant, long-term alteration in Earth’s climate, largely driven by human activities. Its effects are global, impacting diverse regions from the equator to the poles.
• Arctic: A polar region defined by the Arctic Circle, which is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This area, dominated by snow and ice, serves as a critical indicator of global warming trends.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

The conservation and sustainable use of marine resources are fundamental to SDG 14. This involves protecting aquatic biodiversity and the habitats that support it.

1. Ecosystems and Habitats:
   • Ecosystem: Aquatic ecosystems, such as those found in freshwater or marine environments, consist of interacting organisms and their physical surroundings.
   • Habitat: The natural environment where a species lives, such as a coral reef or freshwater lake, is essential for its survival.
   • Reef: A ridge of rock or coral on the seafloor that forms a critical habitat for a vast number of marine species.
2. Key Marine Life:
   • Coral: Marine animals that build reefs, which are foundational to some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet.
   • Freshwater: Bodies of water with low salt concentrations, such as rivers and lakes, which support distinct ecosystems vital for both human and animal life.

SDG 15: Life on Land

Protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems is the core of SDG 15. This goal is directly linked to the preservation of biological diversity at all levels.

Core Concepts of Terrestrial Biodiversity

• Biodiversity: Short for biological diversity, this term represents the number and variety of species within a geographic region. High biodiversity, such as that found in a rainforest, is crucial for ecosystem resilience.
• Species: A group of similar organisms capable of reproduction. The protection of individual species is a cornerstone of conservation efforts.
• Diversity: This concept extends to the variety of life forms and the range of traits within a species, which is underpinned by genetic factors.
• Gene: A segment of DNA that holds instructions for an organism’s traits. Genetic diversity is fundamental to a species’ ability to adapt to environmental changes.

Interactions within Ecosystems

The study of these interactions, often conducted by a biologist, reveals the complex relationships that sustain life on land.

1. Rainforest: A dense, tropical forest characterized by high rainfall and exceptionally rich biodiversity.
2. Pollinator: An agent, such as an insect, that facilitates plant reproduction by carrying pollen, demonstrating the critical interdependence between species.
3. Fungi: Organisms like mushrooms and molds that play a vital role as decomposers, recycling nutrients within an ecosystem.

Analysis of SDGs in the Provided Article

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

The provided text, which is a glossary of environmental terms, does not discuss specific issues or actions but defines the core concepts that are central to several Sustainable Development Goals. Based on these definitions, the following SDGs are directly relevant:

• SDG 13: Climate Action: The definition of “climate change” as a “long-term, significant change in the climate of Earth…in response to human activities” directly connects to this goal, which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: This goal is addressed through the definitions of key marine components like “coral,” “reef,” and marine “ecosystem.” These terms describe the very subjects that SDG 14 aims to conserve and sustainably use.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article strongly connects to this goal by defining “biodiversity,” “ecosystem,” “habitat,” and “rainforest.” These concepts are fundamental to the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The definition of “freshwater” is relevant to this goal, particularly its focus on protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems.

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

While the article does not mention specific actions or policies, the defined terms align with the objectives of several SDG targets:

1. Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The definitions of “coral,” “reef,” and “ecosystem” highlight the specific environments this target aims to protect.
2. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. The definitions of “rainforest,” “habitat,” and “freshwater” describe the ecosystems central to this target.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity. The definition of “biodiversity” as “The number and variety of species found within a localized geographic region” and “habitat” as “The area or natural environment in which an animal or plant normally lives” directly relates to the core components of this target.
3. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. The act of defining “climate change” and related terms like “Arctic” contributes to the awareness-raising mentioned in this target.

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

The article does not explicitly state any official SDG indicators. However, it implies methods of measurement through its definitions:

• Implied Indicator for Biodiversity Loss (Target 15.5): The definition of “biodiversity” as “The number and variety of species found within a localized geographic region” directly implies an indicator. Progress towards halting biodiversity loss would be measured by tracking changes in the number and variety of species over time.
• Implied Indicator for Ecosystem Health (Targets 14.2 and 15.1): The definitions of “rainforest,” “coral,” and “reef” describe specific ecosystems. The health and extent of these ecosystems (e.g., area of forest cover, percentage of live coral cover on reefs) are common indicators used to measure the success of conservation and protection efforts. The article implies these indicators by defining the subjects to be measured.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: snexplores.org