Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability Approaches: An Introduction

Abstract

Human development and growth in the past one and a half century have been largely driven by fossil fuel derived energy and the carbon-based economy has been mainly responsible for increased greenhouse gas emissions leading to the global climate change problem. Unsustainable lifestyle of the modern society has already started showing visible signs of impacts on our planet in the form of global warming, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, pollution-related health issues, eroded biodiversity, and degraded natural ecosystems. While the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of United Nations come as a global call to end poverty, initiate climate action, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030, the capacity, challenges, and preparedness to achieve the same vary in different parts of the globe. The chapter introduces the concepts of positive climate actions, climate resilient and sustainable agriculture, renewable energy alternatives, sustainability principles, practices, and challenges.