UN-SDG 13: Climate Action

Historical Evolution of Water Security Understanding The understanding of water security has evolved significantly over time, particularly in conjunction with the growing awareness of climate change. Historically, water management often focused on ensuring supply for specific sectors like agriculture or urban consumption, often through large-scale infrastructure projects such as dams and irrigation systems1. However, the late 20th and early 21st centuries saw a broadening of the concept of “water security” to encompass not just quantity but also quality, ecosystem health, and the equitable distribution of water resources23. ...

The Stark Geography of Energy Poverty Sub-Saharan Africa has emerged as the epicenter of global energy inequity, housing 80% of the world’s electricity-poor population—600 million people living predominantly in rural areas where grid extension remains economically prohibitive12. The region’s 43% electricity access rate masks devastating disparities between urban areas achieving 81% access and rural communities languishing at 34%, a gap that widened during the pandemic as population growth outpaced electrification efforts34. ...

A Planetary Problem with a Social Toll Ocean acidification, driven by anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, represents a critical planetary boundary within Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics framework, directly linking climate change impacts to marine ecosystem health and human food security. As atmospheric CO₂ levels have risen from pre-industrial concentrations of 280 µatm to current levels exceeding 414 µatm, the ocean’s absorption of this excess carbon has fundamentally altered seawater chemistry1. This process has decreased ocean pH by approximately 0.1 units since the Industrial Revolution, with projections indicating further declines to pH 7.8 by 2100 and potentially as low as 7.45 by 23002. The concept of fish adaptation to ocean acidification sits at the intersection of planetary health and social foundations, as marine fisheries provide essential protein sources for over 3 billion people globally while supporting the livelihoods of millions in coastal communities. ...

Climate’s Deepening Imprint on Global Income and Work The global economy stands at a critical juncture as climate change increasingly disrupts established economic systems and transforms working conditions worldwide. Income and Work represent a key dimension of the social foundation within the Doughnut Economics framework, as climate driven changes reshape labor markets, productivity, and economic output globally. ...

Housing’s Foundational Role in the Doughnut’s Sweet Spot The housing crisis facing communities worldwide reflects a fundamental breakdown in how societies organize and distribute this essential human need. Within the Doughnut Economics framework, housing represents a critical component of the social foundation—the minimum standards required for all people to live in dignity and security.1 This analysis examines the housing crisis through the lens of “safe and just space for humanity,” exploring how current housing systems transgress both social boundaries (by failing to meet basic human needs) and planetary boundaries (through unsustainable development practices). This approach emphasizes housing as a critical social foundation, a concept intrinsically linked to the Doughnut’s broader ambition of achieving collective prosperity within ecological limits.12 Indeed, housing security directly impacts health, education, economic opportunity, and community resilience—all essential elements of the social foundation that supports human flourishing. ...