The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are international goals to achieve a sustainable and better world by 2030, as stated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was unanimously adopted by member countries at the UN Summit in September 2015. In addition, the Paris Agreement adopted in December 2015 aims to "decarbonize" the world to virtually zero anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of this century in order to limit the global average temperature rise to 1.5^oC well below 2^oC compared to pre-industrial levels.

The pandemic of new coronavirus infections has set back progress toward achieving the SDGs globally, for the first time since the 2015 SDG agreement. In addition to pandemics, global issues such as climate change and the biodiversity crisis are standing in the way, casting a pall over the achievement of the goals by 2030. In particular, the increasing frequency of extreme events caused by climate change will affect various aspects of sustainable development, especially the vulnerable, and global cooperation is required to solve these problems.

In September 2021, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a new report, Climate Development and Sustainable Development: Demonstrating the Interconnections.

The report emphasized the importance and urgency of climate change action in solving problems such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation by visually showing the relationship between the following seven indicators and the SDGs.　　　

• Carbon dioxide concentration
• Temperature
• Ocean acidification
• Ocean heat content
• Sea-ice extent
• Glacier mass balance
• Sea-level rise 

Of the 17 SDGs, the one affected by all seven indicators above is SDG 2, "Zero hunger". Climate change will have a major impact on agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, threatening food and nutrition security. On the other hand, ensuring food and nutrition security is a prerequisite for any sustainability goal. There is a need to utilize scientific and technological innovation to address climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.

Reference

WMO Climate Indicators and Sustainable Development: Demonstrating the Interconnections (WMO-No. 1271)　 https://library.wmo.int/doc_num.php?explnum_id=10804

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki (Director, Information Program)