In 2015, world leaders pledged to work together to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. In the same year, they adopted the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. What is the link between the two commitments?
In a new explainer video produced through its Volunteer Initiative with the simpleshow foundation, UNSSC presents climate action as a cross-cutting area that needs to be thought through from the perspective of the dimensions of sustainable development. These five critical dimensions—people, prosperity, planet, partnership and peace, also known as the 5 P’s— should inform development policy decisions at all times.
This means that for a climate intervention to be sustainable, it must take into account not only the environmental, but also the social and economic consequences it generates. Otherwise, the trade-offs between environmental gains and social and economic losses could be detrimental to achieving true sustainability. On the other hand, without climate action we will not manage to advance the wider sustainable development objectives and might even face reversal through strains on the environment, which can jeopardize development gains.
Watch the video to learn more about why it is imperative to make conscious choices in advancing climate action for sustainable development.