Climate Change Responses and Sustainable Development: Integration of Mitigation and Adaptation

Abstract

The recent progress in the study of climate change impacts and responses signifies the value of integrating adaptation and mitigation. Now, the focus is not limited to the responses of climate change, rather shifting to linking the climate change responses to sustainable development for overarching the human well-being. Integration of mitigation and adaptation responses can generate mutual tangible and intangible benefits and co-benefits with sustainable development. This integration would facilitate to the UN General Assembly the 2030 development agenda titled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ through 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). These goals are incapacitated by a number of daunting problems such as inequality, conflicts, rapid urbanization, persistent pockets of poverty and hunger. Climate change is one of the major stressors challenging the competency to attain the ecological, economic and social objectives that outline the SDGs. Climate change, as a major stressor, is responsible for impacting directly and indirectly the multiple stressors such as food security, migration, biodiversity. Low carbon growth, resource efficiency and social inclusivity are paramount to sustainable development, and mitigation and adaptation to climate change may provide pathways to achieve the targets of SDGs. The holistic and integrated approach along with multidimensional and extensive research results can cast an informational basis for making decisions and choices targeting to achieve the sustainable development goals. Therefore, solution to climate change, that is, mitigation and adaptation, is pivotal for a sustainable future.