Report on UK Climate Change Impacts and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Advancing SDG 13: Urgent Climate Action Required in the UK

Recent climate observations in the United Kingdom present a significant challenge to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action). Analysis from the Met Office indicates a clear and accelerating warming trajectory, demanding immediate and robust climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

• Met Office data confirms the UK climate is now “notably different” from previous decades, with human-induced greenhouse gas emissions identified as the primary driver.
• The frequency of broken records for temperature and rainfall extremes has increased, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change as mandated by SDG 13.
• Experts warn that the climate will continue to change, necessitating proactive preparation for its impacts on weather patterns and communities.

Threats to SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities)

The impacts of climate change extend to marine and coastal environments, directly threatening SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Rising sea temperatures and levels pose a dual threat to marine ecosystems and the safety of coastal populations.

Key Marine and Coastal Findings:

1. Sea Surface Temperatures: UK near-coast sea surface temperatures are, on average, 0.3°C warmer than a decade ago and nearly a full degree warmer than the 1981-1990 baseline. Five of the ten warmest years for sea surface temperatures have occurred in the last decade (2015-2024), jeopardizing marine biodiversity and ecosystem health central to SDG 14.
2. Accelerating Sea Level Rise: Tide gauge records dating back to the 1900s provide clear observational evidence that sea level rise around the UK is accelerating. This trend increases the vulnerability of coastal communities, undermining the goal of creating safe and resilient settlements under SDG 11.
3. Extreme Sea Level Events: The most extreme sea levels in 2024 were associated with Storm Kathleen, which coincided with spring tides. This demonstrates the compounding risk when storm surges interact with already elevated average sea levels.

Assessing Infrastructure Resilience and Community Safety (SDG 9 & SDG 11)

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events tests the resilience of national infrastructure and the safety of communities, highlighting the interconnectedness of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11.

• In the last year, the Thames Barrier executed 11 operational flood defence closures.
• Significantly, seven of these closures were on spring high tides and were not related to named storm events, indicating that rising background sea levels are increasing pressure on critical flood defences.
• Dr. Svetlana Jevrejeva of the National Oceanography Centre warns that as sea levels continue to rise, the risk of coastal flooding from storm surge events will intensify, necessitating investment in resilient infrastructure (SDG 9) to protect communities (SDG 11).

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

SDG 13: Climate Action

This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The text directly discusses the consequences of climate change in the UK, citing human emissions of greenhouse gases as the cause. It highlights the “warming trajectory our climate is on,” rising temperatures, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like floods and storms, which are all central themes of SDG 13.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

The article connects climate change to marine environments. It specifically mentions that “UK near-coast sea surface temperatures have been – on average – 0.3°C warmer than a decade ago” and that the rise in UK sea levels is accelerating. These changes directly impact marine and coastal ecosystems, which is a core concern of SDG 14.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article discusses the impacts of climate change on human settlements and infrastructure. The mention of “coastal flooding,” the risk to communities from storm surges, and the use of the “Thames Barrier” for “operational flood defence closures” all relate to making cities and human settlements resilient to climate-related disasters, a key aspect of SDG 11.

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

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
     
     Explanation: The article emphasizes the need to “prepare for the impacts” of climate change, such as the “floods and storms” that “brought the worst severe weather impacts to the UK in 2024.” The operational closures of the Thames Barrier are a direct example of an adaptive measure to combat climate-related hazards like coastal flooding.

2. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience…
     
     Explanation: The article’s focus on rising sea levels and warmer sea surface temperatures highlights significant adverse impacts on the UK’s coastal and marine environment. The discussion of an “increase in the frequency of extreme sea levels and an intensification of coastal hazards” points to the urgent need to protect these ecosystems.

3. 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… caused by disasters, including water-related disasters…
     
     Explanation: The article’s warning about the increasing risk of “coastal flooding” from “major storm surge events” directly relates to this target. The use of the Thames Barrier is a measure aimed at reducing the number of people affected and the economic losses from such water-related disasters.
   • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… adaptation to climate change, disaster risk reduction…
     
     Explanation: The article’s reference to the “Thames Barrier” carrying out “11 operational flood defence closures” is a concrete example of an implemented plan for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation within a major human settlement.

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

1. For SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

   • Indicator: Number of operational flood defence closures.
     
     Explanation: The article explicitly states, “Last year, the Thames Barrier carried out 11 operational flood defence closures.” This is a quantifiable measure of adaptation actions being taken in response to climate-related hazards (Target 13.1 and 11.b).
   • Indicator: Frequency of extreme weather events.
     
     Explanation: The article mentions that “records being broken very frequently” and the “increase in the frequency of extreme sea levels.” Tracking this frequency is a direct way to measure the increasing impact of climate-related hazards (Target 13.1 and 11.5).

2. For SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

   • Indicator: Change in sea surface temperature.
     
     Explanation: The article provides precise data: “UK near-coast sea surface temperatures have been – on average – 0.3°C warmer than a decade ago.” This is a direct indicator used to monitor changes in marine environments (relevant to Target 14.2).
   • Indicator: Rate of sea-level rise.
     
     Explanation: The article states that tide gauge records provide “observational evidence that around the UK, it [sea level rise] is accelerating.” Measuring this rate of acceleration is a key indicator of climate change’s impact on coastal areas (relevant to Target 14.2).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: oceanographicmagazine.com