Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Earth and Space Sciences to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Earth and Space Sciences to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023
Special Edition provides a powerful call to action, presenting a candid assessment of the SDGs based on the latest data and estimates. While highlighting the existing gaps and urging the world to redouble its efforts, the report also emphasizes the immense potential for success through strong political will and the utilization of available technologies, resources, and knowledge. Together, the global community can reignite progress towards achieving the SDGs and create a brighter future for all.
According to the report, the impacts of the climate crisis, the war in Ukraine, a weak global economy, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed weaknesses and hindered progress towards the Goals. The report further warns that while lack of progress is universal, it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable who are experiencing the worst effects of these unprecedented global challenges. It also points out areas that need urgent action to rescue the SDGs and deliver meaningful progress for people and the planet by 2030.
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023: Special Edition is the only UN official report that monitors global progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Using the latest available data and estimates, the report provides a comprehensive midpoint assessment of the 2030 Agenda, highlighting not only impacts of multiple crises affecting people's lives and livelihoods, but also areas of progress where acceleration is needed. This annual SDG Report is prepared by UN DESA, in collaboration with the entire UN Statistical System, consisting of more than 50 international and regional agencies, based on data from over 200 countries and territories.
Climate records were shattered in 2023 as the climate crisis accelerated in real time. Rising temperatures have not abated and global greenhouse gas emissions continue to climb. Communities worldwide are suffering from extreme weather and increasingly frequent and more intense disasters, destroying lives and livelihoods daily. Meanwhile, fossil fuel subsidies hit a record high.
The global community faces a critical juncture. All countries must urgently speed up economy-wide, low-carbon transformations to avoid escalating economic and social costs. The upcoming 2025 cycle of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) presents a chance for ambitious climate action plans that drive economic and social progress. These must have increased ambition to close implementation gaps, cover entire economies and all greenhouse gases, and align with the target of limiting global temperature rise to no more than
The road map to halting warming at
Highest-ever greenhouse gas emissions reveal a global failure to meet climate goals
In 2022, global greenhouse gas emissions reached a new record of 57.4 gigatons of CO
Keeping warming to 1.5°C calls for a 42 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, requiring an 8.7 per cent annual decline. For a 2°C limit, a 28 per cent drop by 2030 is necessary or a 5.3 per cent annual decrease. The only comparable fall was by 4.7 per cent during the pandemic from 2019 to 2020.
Current national policies set the world on track for warming of 3°C. NDCs lower this to 2.5°C, while all net-zero pledges would put warming at 2°C, although these pledges are highly uncertain. There is currently only a 14 per cent chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C, underscoring the urgency of immediate, accelerated action to significantly cut emissions this decade.
Figure 1.
Reaching the $100 billion climate finance goal is a milestone yet trillions are needed for national action plans
Climate finance is crucial in backing global mitigation and adaptation efforts. Developed countries committed to mobilize $100 billion annually in climate finance for developing countries by 2020 and through 2025. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that the commitment was met for the first time in 2022. Climate finance increased by 30 per cent from 2021 to reach $115.9 billion in 2022, with 60 per cent of the total allocated to mitigation. Total adaptation finance rose to $32.4 billion from $10.1 billion in 2016. The 2021 Glasgow Climate Pact urged developed nations to double adaptation finance to developing countries from 2019 levels by 2025. Based on OECD figures, by 2022, developed countries were approximately halfway towards meeting this goal.
Negotiations are under way to establish a new climate finance goal from 2025 onwards, starting from a floor of $100 billion annually, and taking into account developing countries’ needs and priorities. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) estimates that nearly $6 trillion is needed for developing countries’ climate action plans by 2030, underscoring the need to massively scale up finance.
Another broken record – 2023 was the warmest year yet
The world continues to shatter temperature records. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that 2023 was the hottest year on record, with global average temperatures soaring to approximately 1.45
As of June 2024, a WMO climate update underscored an 80 per cent likelihood of at least one year temporarily exceeding 1.5
Figure 2.
Fossil fuel subsidies hit a historic high globally in 2022, exceeding $1.5 trillion
Fossil fuel subsidies reached a record high of $1.53 trillion in 2022, driven by rising energy prices post-pandemic and the impact of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, which disrupted global energy markets. The increase widened the gap between consumer prices and actual energy costs, prompting many governments to introduce support measures to shield industries and populations from inflation. Public funds shoring up the production and consumption of oil, coal and gas more than doubled between 2021 and 2022, and more than tripled from their 2015 levels, reversing progress made between 2012 and 2020 and hindering the net-zero transition.
All regions saw higher subsidies between 2021 and 2022, with the highest in Europe and Northern America ($455 billion), followed by Northern Africa and Western Asia ($327 billion) and Central and Southern Asia ($322 billion). By artificially lowering fossil fuel prices, subsidies harm the competitiveness of cleaner energy sources and hinder the low-carbon transition. They strain national budgets, especially in countries facing fiscal constraints and high debt levels. Although intended to aid vulnerable households, subsidies often disproportionately benefit wealthier people, who consume more energy than lower-income households, as well as carbon-intensive companies. Despite numerous national, regional and global pledges to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, data show minimal action.
Figure 3.
As disasters become more probable, better preparedness has lowered mortality rates
According to the WMO, recorded disasters increased fivefold over the past 50 years, driven partly by human-induced climate change. The number of persons affected by disasters per 100,000 population rose from 1,169 (2005–2014) to 1,980 (2013–2022), a 69 per cent increase, as reported by the Sendai Framework Monitor. The total affected population averaged 133 million people annually from 2015 to 2022, up from 29 million annually from 2005 to 2014. If current trends continue, it is projected that 560 medium- to large-scale disaster events could occur annually by 2030, an average of 1.5 per day.
In LDCs, the disaster-affected population per 100,000 people is 20 per cent higher than the global average, and the mortality rate is 170 per cent higher. This illustrates that the catastrophic impact of disasters is much greater in these countries.
Improved preparedness, including early warning systems and evacuation measures, have significantly reduced disaster mortality in recent years. Global disaster mortality per 100,000 population dropped by 49 per cent, from 1.62 in 2005–2014 to 0.82 in 2013–2022 (excluding COVID-19 related cases). This translates to an average annual mortality of 42,553 people between 2013 and 2022, a one-third decrease from the annual average in 2005–2014. National long-term risk reduction strategies and plans, reported by 129 countries; the establishment of effective multi-hazard early warning systems, reported by 104 countries; and comprehensive resilience plans are key to minimizing disaster impacts on people and economies.
Explain why global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise despite decades of international agreements.
The report states that global emissions reached 57.4 gigatons CO-eq in 2022, the highest ever recorded. Using this information, explain whether current emission trajectories align with the 1.5
Which sector produces the largest share of global CO emissions?
Describe how fossil-fuel subsidies hinder global progress toward climate goals.
Which of the following best summarizes global temperature records for 2023?
Explain how disaster preparedness and early-warning systems demonstrate both vulnerability and resilience in the face of climate change.
Claim: The world is not currently on track to meet the 1.5
Propose one international policy or action that could help realign global progress toward the 2030 Climate Action goal.