How a high-ambition global climate deal will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

The document argues that a high-ambition climate agreement, limiting global warming to 2°C, is essential for achieving the SDGs, particularly those related to poverty, inequality, and energy. Using global analysis and case studies from Dominica, Jamaica, Pakistan, and Uganda, the research indicates that a low-ambition agreement would significantly increase poverty levels in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean by 2030.

• A high-ambition climate agreement is defined as one that limits global warming to 2°C by 2100 and aims for zero net carbon emissions, whereas a low-ambition agreement involves weak commitments that could lead to a 3³5°C temperature rise.
• A low-ambition climate agreement is projected to result in significantly higher poverty levels by 2030: 80–140% higher for Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and 25% higher for Latin America and the Caribbean, compared to a high-ambition scenario.
• Case studies show that in Dominica and Jamaica, the poverty SDG (SDG 1) is the most sensitive to climate ambition, while in Pakistan and Uganda, both poverty (SDG 1) and energy (SDG 7) SDGs are the most sensitive.
• Poverty projections for case study countries vary by scenario: in Uganda, poverty is projected to decline to 12 million by 2030 under high ambition but increase to 19 million under low ambition. In Pakistan, it is projected to decline to zero under high ambition versus 8.6 million under low ambition.

APA

Houlden, V., Tsarouchi, G.-M., Walmsley, N., Greño, P., Markandya, A., Onofri, L., Ansuategi, A., Picot, H., & Dupar, M. (2015). How a high-ambition global climate deal will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CDKN_SDG-and-climate-change-policy-brief_Final_WEB.pdf

Chicago

Houlden, Valerie, Georgia-Marina Tsarouchi, Nigel Walmsley, Patxi Greño, Anil Markandya, Laura Onofri, Alberto Ansuategi, Helen Picot, and Mairi Dupar. How a high-ambition global climate deal will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2015. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CDKN_SDG-and-climate-change-policy-brief_Final_WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Houlden |first1=Valerie |last2=Tsarouchi |first2=Georgia-Marina |last3=Walmsley |first3=Nigel |last4=Greño |first4=Patxi |last5=Markandya |first5=Anil |last6=Onofri |first6=Laura |last7=Ansuategi |first7=Alberto |last8=Picot |first8=Helen |last9=Dupar |first9=Mairi |title=How a high-ambition global climate deal will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=July 2015 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CDKN_SDG-and-climate-change-policy-brief_Final_WEB.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{houlden2015how, author = {Houlden, Valerie and Tsarouchi, Georgia-Marina and Walmsley, Nigel and Greño, Patxi and Markandya, Anil and Onofri, Laura and Ansuategi, Alberto and Picot, Helen and Dupar, Mairi}, title = {{How a high-ambition global climate deal will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2015}, month = jul, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CDKN_SDG-and-climate-change-policy-brief_Final_WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }