Sustainable Development Goals UNDP SDG Booklet, 7x5inches for DG_final | Page 45

GOAL 13: climate action
Take urgent action to combat
climate change and its impacts*
The Cebu sailed 100 metres inland and came to rest on dozens of houses during typhoon Haiyan in Eastern Visaya(Credit: Quentin Musset and Baudouin Nachtergaele / UNDP)
Every country in the world is seeing the drastic effects of climate
change, some more than others. On average, the annual losses just
from earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones and flooding count in
the hundreds of billions of dollars. We can reduce the loss of life and
property by helping more vulnerable regions—such as land-locked
countries and island states—become more resilient. The impact of
global warming is getting worse. We’re seeing more storms, more
droughts and more extremes than ever before. It is still possible, with
political will and technological measures, to limit the increase in global
mean temperature to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels—
and thus avoid the worst effects of climate change. The Sustainable
Development Goals lay out a way for countries to work together to
meet this urgent challenge.
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