Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Selected Elements of a Sustainable Development Model Law

Abstract

2020 was the beginning of the critical decade for Climate Change. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement was an opportunity for countries to commit to temperature rises of no more than 2 degrees Celsius while aiming to keep rises in temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Countries were to revisit their National Determined Contributions in 2020, during the first Global Stocktake, and strengthen emissions reduction targets for 2030. In the first 5 years of the Paris Agreement there has been a rather restricted way of viewing Climate Change mitigation and adaptation procedures and many countries have failed to provide express legislative reform or national plans and agendas to help decrease carbon emissions and curb the impacts of climate change. In order for there to be meaningful change that is all encompassing, there must be wholistic change across all present and future legislative reforms. Climate Change mitigation and adaptation must be considered in all future policy and national agenda considerations. And Covid-19 Recovery has provided an opportunity to do so. As the globe finds ways to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic there has been greater focus and attempts to include Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Change agendas within pandemic recovery plans. There should be greater effort to incorporate the two into a uniform legislative instrument for change. Sustainable Development as a concept includes environmental development and Climate Action is expressly considered in Sustainable Development Goal 13. In formulating Sustainable Development legislation as a tool to address development agendas and Climate Change strategies, nations would be better equipped to ensure that climate considerations are present in all forms of development. While considering the United nations Agenda 2030, the Paris Agreement as well as development incentives, a Sustainable Development Act may be the tool to ensure the protection of present and future generations in Climate Change mitigation and adaptation. Sustainable Development legislation that brings together economic, social and environmental concerns would be beneficial in addressing Sustainable Development and Climate Change simultaneously and with better effect.

Keywords

• sustainable development
• climate change
• model law
• development
• law