The report says that efforts to eradicate poverty will be severely compromised if action is not taken to cut carbon emissions and support is not given to the most vulnerable countries to adapt to the changes that they are already experiencing. Specifically, the report says the SDGs should:
- Include a robust stand-alone goal on climate that will encourage all countries to follow a low carbon development pathway, and integrate action across all of the goals.
- Recognise that climate change, poverty eradication and sustainable development cannot be tackled as separate issues.
- Acknowledge that it is critical to decarbonise energy generation completely by 2050 if temperature rises are to be kept below 2 degrees C, and that most of the infrastructure being planned today must be zero carbon to avoid locking in future emissions.
- Recognise that increased access to sustainable, affordable, reliable and safe energy will bring multiple co-benefits that are crucial to success in several SDG goal areas including: poverty reduction, education, health, women’s empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
