The SDGs as a Climate Solution

Reducing extreme poverty is a complex issue that must be tackled from many different angles. The UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a good way to categorize various improvements needed to allow those with the least to live more prosperous, and less carbon-intensive lives.

The Sustainable Development Goals show the work need to be done to eliminate emissions-intensive extreme poverty. Source: Council for International Development

The interconnectivity of all these issues is demonstrated by the application of environmental policy in poverty reduction and the effect of poverty reduction on environmental goals. The SDGs already directly (SDG 13) and indirectly (SDG 7, 9, 11, 12, and 15) promote climate change mitigation and adaptation in a way that reduces poverty. This follows President Mohamed Nasheed's vision of development by encouraging growth in energy, infrastructure, and communities in a way that does not necessarily increase emissions. The economic development of the extreme poor is exciting for environmental policy. It can help reduce high survival-emissions, such as slash-and-burn agriculture or traditional open-fire cookstoves. These actions, in turn, will help meet SDGs 7, 11, 12, and 13 in return.

Reducing extreme poverty has always appealed to our humanity, and now it can satisfy our pragmatism as we attempt to alleviate global warming. Donating to your favourite extreme poverty and sustainable development charity can change our world in more ways than one.

Fair World, Fair Climate

It is widely accepted that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are altering how our climate acts. But why have greenhouse gases risen to a dangerous level? One interesting explanation is inequality.

The majority of people live sustainable lives. The most carbon intensive lifestyles come from the opposite ends of the income spectrum. They result from the consumer lifestyles of the rich and the high survival emissions of the poor. Source: Wikipedia, Jetlux

Ken Conca found that the majority of people live sustainable lives. The lifestyles of the rich and very poor are the most carbon intensive. Paul Wapner and John Willoughby conclude that addressing inequality is vital to solving climate change. They advocate both economic development of the poor as well as income reduction of the rich. Note that in this context 'rich' does not just apply to millionaires and billionaires. As demonstrated by my previous posts, I am guilty of emitting carbon at and unsustainable rate. Addressing inequality would also assist with the international talks that play such an important role in developing global climate strategies. Politicians from the Global South have pointed to inequality as an issue that undermines the trust necessary to move policy forward.

The problem of inequality and its relation the climate change will likely be increasingly examined as both are worsening. While the gap in global income is concerning, it, fortunately, can be tackled in many different ways. I will first explore the more universally palatable solution of development to decrease high survival emission. Then solutions that tackle the dominate emissions of the rich will be considered.

And We're Back!

I'm back from my hiatus and am excited to explore further what changes we can make both personally and as a society to fight climate change. During the break, I took a fascinating class called Politics of Climate Change taught by Dr. Sam Randalls. It involved examining different preconceived assumptions of the true cause of climate change and seeing how they affect proposed solutions.

Looking back at my posts, I have mostly considered technical solutions. This makes sense given my science background. Moving forward, I'm hoping to incorporate solutions that evolve from other worldviews. I hope you're as excited as I am to investigate opportunities to change the future.

Clean energy helps meet development needs in India. Source: Samir Saran

Did I Change for the Climate?

This is my final blog post. Over the course of this blog I've looked at a wide variety of adaptations to climate change. However, I believe that change needs to start on an individual level. I've been cutting my carbon footprint by walking to school, turning off lights, and trying to buy local, organic, and unprocessed foods whenever possible. And then the holiday came. After two flights across the Atlantic, I was nervous to see my final result. So courtesy of Carbon Independent, I calculated my footprint.

My final carbon footprint. Source: Carbon Independent

4 extra tonnes from two flights to New York. While I'm below average for the UK and US, this still stings.

Climate adaptation is going to be a challenge. It's heartbreaking to think that it may eventually mean that going home for the holidays is no longer an option. Hopefully, if there is enough mitigation, that scenario can be avoided. In the meantime, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed exploring this topic as much as I did. 

Source: Biarritz

Making it Rain: The Strong Water Harvesting Market

A commercial rainwater harvesting system Source: Stormsaver

Build Projects recently reported that 2015 was a great year for the water harvesting market. It has increasingly been used by homeowner looking to a value to their house and industry looking to cut costs. The technology now allows some insulations to save the owners money within the first year of purchase. And the momentum is expected to continue into 2016 with sales above inflation despite an expected lowering in the price of water.