Report on Climate Change and its Intersection with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Urgency of SDG 13 (Climate Action)

The scientific consensus confirms that the global climate is changing due to human activity, presenting a significant challenge to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Observed extreme weather events underscore the immediate need to address SDG 13 (Climate Action). These events, which impact communities and ecosystems, include:

• Hundred-year floods
• Expansive wildfires
• Powerful hurricanes and winter storms
• Record-breaking heatwaves

These phenomena threaten progress on multiple SDGs, including SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), by destabilizing human settlements and natural habitats.

Public Perception and the Need for Quality Education (SDG 4)

Analysis of Public Opinion

A significant gap exists between scientific evidence and public perception, hindering the collective will required for effective climate action. This highlights a critical need for improved public awareness and education, as outlined in SDG 4 (Quality Education). Survey data reveals a divided public landscape:

• A 2023 Yale survey found that while 72% of Americans believe global warming is occurring, only 58% attribute it to human causes.
• A 2024 Pew survey indicated that 51% of U.S. adults are suspicious of those advocating for climate action.
• A 2025 Gallup poll showed that 41% of Americans believe the seriousness of climate change is exaggerated.

The Politicization of Climate Science

The transformation of climate change into a partisan issue obstructs the formation of unified strategies essential for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The scientific fact of anthropogenic warming is not subject to political debate. The Earth is warming, global climates are changing, and human activity is the primary causal factor. Overcoming this political divide through fact-based education is crucial for implementing effective, science-informed policies.

The Scientific Foundation of Climate Change

Core Principles and Historical Context

The fundamental theory of climate change is based on the greenhouse effect, where atmospheric gases trap heat. Human industrial activity has increased the concentration of these gases, leading to a planetary energy imbalance and subsequent warming. This scientific understanding was predicted before it was empirically measured, with key milestones including:

1. 1820s: French mathematician Joseph Fourier first described the greenhouse effect.
2. 1896: Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius theorized that human carbon emissions would cause global warming.
3. 1958: Charles Keeling began systematic measurements of atmospheric CO2, documenting a continuous rise.
4. 1980s: A clear and observable global warming trend emerged from the data.

The Role of Human Activity and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

The increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases since the industrial revolution is the established driver of modern climate change. This directly links the issue to historical and current energy production methods, underscoring the critical importance of transitioning to sustainable energy systems as mandated by SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

Advanced Modeling and Interdisciplinary Collaboration (SDG 9 & SDG 17)

The Development of Earth System Models

Modern climate science relies on sophisticated Earth system models, a key innovation in line with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). These “coupled models” integrate data and principles from atmospheric sciences, oceanography, and terrestrial sciences. This interdisciplinary approach allows for a comprehensive simulation of how energy and greenhouse gases are exchanged between the land, atmosphere, and oceans, directly involving the domains of SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Confirmation of Anthropogenic Causation

The development and application of these advanced models are a testament to international scientific collaboration, embodying the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through these models, scientists have established with a high degree of certainty that human activities are responsible for the vast majority of observed climate change. This conclusive finding provides the scientific backbone for global policy aimed at achieving SDG 13.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

The article primarily discusses issues related to climate change, its scientific basis, public perception, and the political polarization surrounding it. Based on this content, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed:

• SDG 13: Climate Action: This is the central theme of the article. It directly addresses the science of climate change, its causes (“human-caused climate change is based on a simple theory: Certain gases in our atmosphere trap heat, humans have introduced more of those gases into the atmosphere”), and its effects (“Hundred-year floods,” “Wildfires,” “Powerful hurricanes, heat records”).
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article mentions specific climate-related disasters that impact human settlements and infrastructure, such as “Hundred-year floods in Central Texas” and “Wildfires encroaching on the Grand Canyon.” These events threaten the safety and sustainability of communities.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article highlights a significant gap between scientific consensus and public understanding. It notes that “most people seem to be operating on dated talking points or repeating ones that they don’t fully understand,” pointing to a need for improved education and awareness on the topic of climate science.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The text describes how climate change has become a deeply divisive political issue in the United States, creating a “partisan divide” that hinders effective action. It states, “any issue that becomes salient enough in the United States becomes political, then partisan, then extremifying,” which relates to the challenge of building effective and inclusive institutions to address critical problems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article implicitly and explicitly points to the need for collaboration. It mentions how “scientists from different disciplines have worked together to develop integrated models of different Earth systems,” which is a form of scientific partnership essential for advancing climate science and informing policy.

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

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article’s opening lines, which list “Hundred-year floods,” “Wildfires,” and “Powerful hurricanes,” directly refer to the climate-related hazards that this target aims to address.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. The article’s entire premise is to address the lack of public understanding, stating the author’s goal was to “write about how the scientific understanding of climate change has evolved, since most people seem to be operating on dated talking points.”

2. 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… The mention of specific disasters like “floods in Central Texas” directly relates to the types of events this target seeks to mitigate the impact of on communities.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development… The article’s citation of survey data showing that “only 58% believe [global warming] is caused by humans” despite overwhelming scientific evidence underscores the need to improve education on this topic.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The article’s description of a “partisan divide on climate change” where people are “pressured to reject the entire scientific framework” illustrates a breakdown in inclusive and responsive decision-making, which this target aims to improve.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships… The article provides a clear example of such partnerships in the scientific community, noting that “experts in land systems have worked with experts in atmospheric sciences and oceanography to model how energy and greenhouse gases are exchanged.”

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

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. For SDG Target 13.1 & 11.5:

   • Implied Indicator: Occurrence and impact of extreme weather events. The article lists “Hundred-year floods,” “Wildfires,” “Powerful hurricanes,” and “heat records” as tangible events whose frequency and severity can be tracked to measure climate-related hazards and disasters.

2. For SDG Target 13.3 & 4.7:

   • Mentioned Indicator: Public perception and understanding of climate change. The article explicitly cites survey data that can serve as an indicator: “A 2023 Yale and George Mason survey found that 72% of Americans believe global warming is occurring, but only 58% believe it is caused by humans.” Tracking these percentages over time would measure progress in awareness and education.
   • Mentioned Indicator: Atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. The article mentions the work of Charles Keeling, whose measurements at Mauna Loa “have increased every year since” 1958. This data on atmospheric CO2 is a direct indicator of the driver of climate change.

3. For SDG Target 16.7:

   • Implied Indicator: Level of political polarization on climate policy. The article describes this polarization by citing polls showing deep divisions, such as “51% are suspicious of those pushing for climate action” and “41% believe its seriousness is exaggerated.” Measuring the partisan gap in such polls can serve as an indicator of institutional division.

4. For SDG Target 17.17:

   • Implied Indicator: Number and scope of interdisciplinary scientific collaborations. The article’s reference to the development of “coupled models” or “Earth system models” by scientists from different disciplines (“land systems,” “atmospheric sciences,” and “oceanography”) implies that the formation and success of such collaborative research groups can be an indicator of effective partnerships.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: readtangle.com