Canada: 2a - Climate Change is our Shared Problem

Environment   Sep 29, 2017 by Sahaj Kinshuk

What are the most relevant actions/targets proposed in SDG#13?

13.3, improving education on climate change mitigation seems the most relevant to me. Many of the other targets propose to either minimize the damage caused by climate change or attempt to prevent climate change from the highest level, government. However change is best created from the bottom up, so I believe improving education would result in the greatest impact towards preventing climate change. 13.A also seems effective to me, because they address past issues related to financial support to developing countries by specifying that money is to be used in a meaningful and transparent way.

How do SDG #13 targets respond to the challenges created by the effects of climate change in water in both Indigenous and non-indigenous communities?

Effects of climate change in water are addressed by SDG #13 targets through the mobilization of funds to developing countries by supporting disaster risk reduction strategies and climate change adaptation projects. These initiatives can result in providing access to clean water to climate change affected areas. The SDG targets also encourage countries to make their own plans, suited to their own needs. This is important for countries that have large indigenous communities that need special consideration for plans.

What other areas do you think should be taken into account?

SDG #13 Targets seem to focus on supporting developing countries, with the only action towards developed countries being a vague promise to make individual plans, which few countries actually follow. I believe that the support of those who are most affected by climate change is very important, however there must be accountability to those who create those conditions in the first place with their greenhouse gas emissions. I believe greater emphasis should be placed on direct action by powerhouse countries to make change, especially to preserve their own natural wonders, ecosystems, and native organisms. This would also help Indigenous groups that rely on nature to survive.

What elements would you incorporate if you had to build and action/target that addressed water, Indigenous peoples, and non-indigenous people?

I would incorporate a plan to protect sources of freshwater. Many sources of water within countries are becoming contaminated due to poor education and practice of water preservation. This is important for indigenous groups that rely on nearby sources of water that may be becoming contaminated by travelers or farmers that pollute it. Public education, especially for non-indigenous people, on proper water stewardship could help with these issues, as less people would be likely to pollute due to ignorance.

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