Within the United Nations system, there are four main organisations that play an important role in disseminating information and proposing solutions on the environment, climate change and weather. These organisations are the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The information shared and solutions proposed by these organisations enable policymakers to make informed decisions regarding climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which comprised 17 Goals. These goals are known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and cover a range of topics ranging from climate, energy, oceans, science and technology to transport, urbanization and water, The above-mentioned organisations share a common SDG i.e. Goal 13 – Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Paris Agreement
On 12 December 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP-21) hosted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This historic Agreement paved the way for countries to develop and implement climate action solutions, known as National Determined Contributions (NDCs) “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
Adaptation and Mitigation
Adaptation and Mitigation are the main climate action solutions used to fight against and reduce the effects of climate change.
Adaptation is the process of adjusting to the changes in the climate that are already taking place, such as planting drought-resistant plants. Further action taken to adapt to the impacts of climate change range from providing flood protection (by building flood defence barriers and sea defence walls) and carrying out upgrades to infrastructure (raising bridges to fight against sea-level rise, upgrading power plants and telecommunication systems) to establishing emergency preparedness plans to ensure disaster risk management and business continuity decisions can be implemented effectively at the onset of a climate emergency.
Mitigation consists of preventing future problems from occurring by reducing our carbon footprint. Our carbon footprint refers to the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) we release into the atmosphere. GHG emissions are primarily generated by the burning of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil). The main GHG that cause climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. Deforestation (clearing land and cutting down forests) can also release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. The main sectors that generate GHG, include: the energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture, forestry and other land uses.
UNEP has put together this interactive brochure on The Sectoral Solution to Climate Change, which speaks to the main sectors that generate GHG and what can be done in these sectors to reduce GHG.
Other solutions that can help prevent the impact of GHG on the atmosphere include using clean energy (electricity and nuclear power) and renewable energy (solar and wind energy). Additional solutions consist of energy efficiency (the use of energy efficient light bulbs) and sustainable transportation (the use of battery or electric operated buses or hybrid buses).
Call to Action
Ordinary people, going about their daily lives, can also actively take climate action. Here are a few simple actions that can be done on a daily or regular basis to bring about change. These small but effective steps can make a big difference to our planet tomorrow:
- Walk, cycle or take public transport
- Recycle – use less plastics
- Plant a garden or a tree
- Turn off the lights when not in use
- Conserve water
- Tell family and friends
What are you doing to reduce the effects of climate change and your carbon footprint?
Judith A. Ewa is the debut children’s author of “Bibi Saves the Honey Bees”. This is the first book in the Preserve the Planet picture book series. She is committed, through her storytelling, to bring awareness to children about the importance of preserving the environment. She offers simple solutions in each book aimed at making a big difference tomorrow.
