UN Sustainable Development Goals and Goal 13

The course “United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Goal 13” occupies an important place in the training of PhD students in the field of climate services, as it develops a comprehensive understanding of the interconnections between the state of the climate system, the use of natural resources, economic development, and societal processes. In the context of climate change, natural resource depletion, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, and increasing global risks, achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is an essential prerequisite for the safe and long-term development of society.

The aim of the course is to develop knowledge of the concept of sustainable development, the structure and principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the particular role of Goal 13, “Climate Action.” The course examines the components of and interactions within the Earth system, planetary boundaries, trajectories of human development in the Anthropocene, global risks and critical thresholds, the historical development of the sustainable development concept, current sustainable development policies, and possible pathways towards a climate-resilient future.

Particular attention is paid to analysing the impacts of climate change on society, the economy, and the environment; evaluating sustainable development policies; working with future scenarios; identifying risks and uncertainties; and developing strategic solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

This course constitutes the general component of the comprehensive course “United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Goal 13.” The general component provides a common theoretical, conceptual, and methodological foundation for the subsequent study of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in individual climate-sensitive sectors.