KECTIL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSIGNMENT
Our earth, our home, is facing extreme environmental degradation. The problems are caused by a range of issues caused by humans, including increased carbon dioxide from industrialization that depletes the ozone layer and causes global warming, along with serious air pollution, water pollution, solid waste build-up and mismanagement, war, acid rain and the effect of population concentrations (cities), increased population generally.
The Assignment is presented in Parts 1-4 below.
Part I. What is Climate Action?
Climate Action is the actions necessary to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources, and taking urgent steps on climate change so that the earth can support the needs of the present and future generations.
United Nations announced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is a plan of action for people, the planet, and prosperity. No 13 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (“SDG”) is climate action. SDG 13 incorporates with other goals especially 6, 14 and 15 to achieve a desirable planet for all. SDG 13 has 5 Targets and 8 Indicators as follows.
“https://sdg-tracker.org/climate-change” provides data on these indicators using official statistics from the UN and other international organizations. Please use this tool to track the progress of SDG 13 in your country. Learn more about your local problems. Think about ways to hold your governments accountable to achieving the agreed goals, targets, and indicators.
Perform the following three tasks to expand your knowledge on SDG 13.
Task 1
Target 13.1 focuses on strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. Research your country’s national progress on climate-related hazards and natural. disasters strategies. Write a 200 words summary highlighting issues that your country needs to improve on.
Useful datasets
Natural Disasters Index
https://ourworldindata.org/natural-disasters
Total deaths from natural disasters
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/natural-disaster-deaths-ihme
Number injured from natural disasters
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/number-injured-from-disasters?country=~All+natural+disasters
People displaced internally by natural disasters
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/internally-displaced-persons-from-disasters
Number of people directly affected by natural disasters
Adoption and implementation of policies to reduce disaster risk
Task 2
Target 13.2 focuses on the integration of climate change measures into policy and planning. Research your country’s engagement in policy and planning. Write a 200 words summary of policy engagement of your country reflecting on climate change measures.
Useful sources of information
Air quality by country
Multilateral environmental agreements and parties
CO2 and Green House Gases Emissions by country
https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and-other-greenhouse-gas-emissions
Outdoor air pollution by country
https://ourworldindata.org/outdoor-air-pollution
Indoor air pollution by country
https://ourworldindata.org/indoor-air-pollution
Sanitation risks and distribution by country
https://ourworldindata.org/sanitation
Plastic pollution by country
https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution
Task 3
Indicators 13.3 focuses on improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. Research your country’s progress on climate change education capacity. Write a 200 words summary of your country’s status on education for sustainable development highlighting national education policies, curricula, teacher education and student assessment.
Part 2 International Agreements and Local Progress
People demand a healthy environment because it supplies the necessities of life. Quality water, food and air are crucial for our health and livelihoods. The well-being of all the countries in the world is determined by the wellness of the natural environment. But many developing countries have the following problems restricting the achievement of a healthy environment, air pollution, water pollution, climate change, soil degradation, over-exploitation of natural resources, biodiversity loss, deforestation, desertification, and ocean acidification.
Global efforts to prevent these environmental problems are present in international agreements. Some examples of international environmental agreements are as follow.
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
- Convention on Mercury Montreal Protocol
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
- Kyoto Protocol
- Paris Agreement
- World Heritage Convention
- Convention to Combat Desertification
- International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
- International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
Research your country position and involvement in at least three international environmental agreements. What are the pros and cons of involving in these agreements for your country? Write a 200 words summary about your findings.
Create an environmental action plan toward one problem you find in your city – answering the following: What is the problem? Where is the problem, Why does it happen? How could you try to solve it? Any environmental agency/entity you could approach to support you? Note: be specific, creative and do research – word limit: 500 words.
Part 3 Your Climate Story
A climate story is a personal reflection of climate change and progress. It reflects your climate experience and observations. Usually, climate stories range from despair to hope, from loss to resolve. Climate story telling is one of the most important skills for environmental advocacy. As it helps the writer describe their experience and makes an emotional connection with audience regarding climate change. See some climate stories provide below. Write your climate change story in 200 words?
Useful data on climate stories
Climate Story Project
https://www.climatestoriesproject.org/climatestories.html
Nature Conservancy Climate Change Stories
https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/
World Bank Climate Change Stories
https://www.worldbank.org/en/what-we-do/climate-stories-project
UNICEF Climate Change Stories
https://www.unicef.org/stories/young-climate-activists-demand-action-inspire-hope
What are the ways you can engage with Kectil global network regarding environmental communication? Please describe your ideas and thoughts in 200 words.
Optional 1: Watch the movie “2040” from the Australian environmentalist Damon Gameau. According to the movie, what are the tips to saving the world? Elaborate each of the tips you can assimilate.
Optional 2: Plant 3 native trees or shrubs in your local area with 3 friends, take a photo together and attach here in your assignment. Answer the following question: who are Wangari Maath, Sir David Attenborough, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Greta Thunberg?
Some organisations/programs you can get involved:
Tunza Eco Generation
Greenpeace
WWF
UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Program
Part 3 Climate Conversations with Friends, Family and Colleagues
Based on what you know and have learned, start conversations with your friends, family and colleagues about the importance of the earth’s climate and why it is everyone’s responsibility. Here are some questions you can start conversations with.
Earth’s climate is gradually changing. How can this affect life on Earth and below water? You can elaborate and give examples.
Is farming and mining sustainable in your country? Justify why and how it could become more sustainable.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. What does it refer to? You can elaborate and give examples.
Ecocide is a concept that is being widely highlighted among several environmental law entities. In your opinion, how can ecocide assist in ensuring a better environment for all? Why?
How can we correlate the importance of environmental protection with health and economic aspects? Discuss and give examples.