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The Nexus Approach to Climate Action, Planetary Integrity and Sustainable Development in Africa

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Climate Change and Socio-political Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Anthropocene

Part of the book series: The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science ((APESS,volume 37))

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Abstract

Within the New Way of Working, the model adopted by the United Nations as part of its systemic reform, the nexus approach of integrating interlinking work streams across discrete pillars has been encouraged. Promoting this, in 2020, the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa commissioned a study on accelerated policy implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Africa via a nexus approach between peace, development, human rights and humanitarian action. To these pillars was added governance, regarded as key to the nexus and transversal across pillars. The current chapter delimits analysis to focus on Climate Action (SDG13) and related ‘planetary integrity’ SDGs, Life below Water (SDG14) and Life on Land (SDG15), which, in the light of climate concerns, have been located front and centre of the sustainability debate. There is widespread recognition that climate change leads to human displacement, migration and related human insecurity and conflict risks. Given this scenario, the chapter calls for greater attention to SDG13 relative to the other SDGs, located within a bigger-picture nexus approach. This may enhance critical awareness that can inform policy development and implementation, to mitigate against the negative consequences of failing to consider climate action relative to conflict and natural disasters.

Prof. Alain Tschudin is Professor of Peace Studies and Director of the International Centre of Nonviolence based at the Durban University of Technology. He holds Ph.D.s in Psychology and in Ethics. Email: AlainT@dut.ac.za

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/database/

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  1. Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

    Alain Jean-Paul Charles Tschudin

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Correspondence to Alain Jean-Paul Charles Tschudin .

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  1. International Centre of Nonviolence, Durban University of Technology, Durban,, South Africa

    Jean Chrysostome K. Kiyala

  2. Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

    Norman Chivasa

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Tschudin, A.JP.C. (2024). The Nexus Approach to Climate Action, Planetary Integrity and Sustainable Development in Africa. In: Kiyala, J.C.K., Chivasa, N. (eds) Climate Change and Socio-political Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science, vol 37. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48375-2_16

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