The Relationship Between Climate Change and Sustainable Development:
The increase of the global average temperature by 1.1ºC compared to the pre-industrial period has led to glacier melting, rising sea levels, and a higher frequency of extreme weather events like storms, floods, and droughts, all with significant destructive power. These climate change-triggered disasters have numerous devastating environmental, social, and economic impacts. Among these are biodiversity loss, erosion, poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate access to basic education and healthcare services, increasing inequalities, and the forced migration of millions of people.
In 1987, the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as a form of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. There is a clear relationship between climate change and sustainable development, as both have profound effects on society and the environment. Sustainable development aims to mitigate the destructive impacts of climate change mentioned above and enable adaptation to these impacts. The consequences of climate change pose an obstacle to development, making sustainable development crucial in addressing this issue.
Sustainable development is a concept with social, economic, and environmental dimensions. In 2015, the United Nations set 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. Goal 13 among these focuses on climate action, providing a framework for addressing climate change and its impacts. Through this goal, the aim is to increase resilience to climate-related disasters, integrate climate action into relevant laws and regulations, inform the public, and raise awareness about climate change and its effects.