Which of the sustainability goals is most important and why?

Assingment Brief

Sustainable Development: Economics meets Environmental Stewardship

The purpose of an argumentative essay is to prove a theory or idea to be correct. These arguments must be based on factual evidence or proofs. An argumentative essay should be written in a formal manner and is not an opinion piece.

Task: Write an argumentative essay that examines the following:

Which of the sustainability goals is most important and why?

Things to consider:

• Which goals would have the greatest impact?
• Which goal is seen as most important based on current issues facing the planet?

Research on individual countries/regions where the goal is most needed/most helpful/most important

Sample Answer

Sustainable Development: The Most Important Sustainability Goal and Why

The United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 as a universal call to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. While all the goals are important and interconnected, this essay argues that Goal 13: Climate Action is the most important of them all. Without urgent efforts to address climate change, progress on all other goals could be severely undermined.

The Urgency of Climate Action

Climate change is a global crisis affecting every country. Rising sea levels, extreme weather, and temperature changes are not just environmental problems, they threaten food security, clean water, jobs, health, and even peace. For example, countries like Bangladesh face constant floods, destroying crops and homes, while sub-Saharan Africa faces longer droughts, increasing hunger and migration. These issues affect not just Goal 13, but also Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health), and 6 (Clean Water).

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we are close to reaching a tipping point where the damage may become irreversible. Therefore, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate impacts are critical to protecting both people and the planet.

Greatest Impact Across All Goals

While goals like Quality Education (Goal 4) and Good Health (Goal 3) are essential, they cannot be fully achieved if climate change continues to worsen. For instance, schools are closed during climate disasters like hurricanes or wildfires. Pollution from industries and vehicles worsens asthma and other respiratory diseases, especially among children and the elderly.

Goal 13 supports all other goals. For example:

• Reducing pollution improves health.

• Shifting to green energy creates jobs (Goal 8).

• Investing in sustainable farming helps fight hunger (Goal 2).

• Protecting forests and oceans supports biodiversity (Goal 15 and 14).

In this way, Climate Action is a foundation for sustainable development as a whole.

Regional Importance

Climate change affects every region differently, making it a truly global concern. In small island developing states like Maldives, rising sea levels could sink entire communities. In Australia, wildfires have become more frequent and intense, destroying homes and wildlife.

In Europe, more frequent heatwaves impact agriculture and public health. Meanwhile, low-income countries in Africa and Asia, who contribute the least to emissions, suffer the most. They lack the money and infrastructure to respond to disasters or build clean energy systems.

This makes climate justice an important part of Goal 13. Richer countries must help poorer ones adapt to climate change and shift to greener economies.

Continued...