The Social Consequences of Climate Change

This article examines the interconnections between climate change, air pollution, and their impacts on human health and the environment, with a focus on the Indonesian context. As one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Indonesia faces significant challenges arising from climate change and air pollution, exacerbated by factors such as rapid urbanization, industrialization, and deforestation. The article discusses the various sources of air pollution in Indonesia, including vehicular emissions, industrial activities, biomass burning, and agricultural practices, and their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, it explores the health implications of exposure to air pollutants, such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and adverse birth outcomes, as well as the environmental consequences, including deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and disruptions to ecosystems. Finally, the article highlights the importance of policy interventions, technological innovations, and public awareness campaigns in mitigating air pollution and addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change in Indonesia.

Climate change has become one of the “hottest picks” so to speak, not only in academic circles but in the world of mainstream media, too. Yet exactly a much more scientific approach is required to distinguish real concerns from sensationalist fake news which so often find their way into newspapers, radio, or television. Academia must refrain from copying non-fact-based (hypo-)thesis as climate change is too serious an issue as well. The approach of “build, shop, work differently” should lead to implementing the concept of self-contained and sustainable neighborhoods; reducing unnecessary daily individual traffic reduces avoidable pollution. We shall address the intertwined issue of whether or not elected office holders should propose such a change in consumer attitude, or if civil society itself would manage to first create the required awareness, then act accordingly. Introducing Slow Cities and Smart Cities leads to the major argument: not only working or shopping near to where we live is important but re-considering whether society should really depend on imported foodstuffs having been transported thousands of miles by air or sea, then lorry, or not better switch to a much more regional, environmentally friendly way of meeting ones' daily needs not to reject globalization per se but to create a regionalized, climate friendly variety of it. Finally, restructuring supply chain logistics might be a key development needed to successfully tackle and combat climate change on a global scale.

This article explores the impact of global warming and the climate problem by focusing on their reflections in the media. This chapter addresses climate journalism in line with Türkiye's domestic and international initiatives on climate and environmental concerns including the Zero-Waste Project and Anadolu Ajansı's attempts to change the narrative in the media about climate change via establishing a new editorial unit, Greenline.

In this study, a metaphor showing that climate change education operates in dynamic interaction is presented. The metaphor allows us to see the broad context and importance of the effects of climate change education. In this study, it is aimed to raise awareness about the issue by drawing attention to climate change education with a metaphor. In this direction, theory and application were made by adapting Newton's cradle to the field of climate change education. If the impacts of climate change education are conserved as a whole through understanding and development, by staying in harmony, energy is not wasted and is conserved rather than misdirected. Increasing awareness and attention to climate change education, and adopting a broad-based approach to improving the system, are thought to be more effective and beneficial in shaping the future of climate change education and therefore combating and adapting to climate change. Newton's cradle metaphor has been a helpful tool to illustrate the dynamic interaction of climate change education. Perhaps this tool can help climate warriors who want to shape and steer the future to think creatively, gain perspective and see different potential solutions.

The causes of climate change and extreme events have been widely discussed in academic and scientific circles. Between natural and historical factors characterized by determinism and imponderability and the anthropogenic factors resulting from human, social, and economic-productive evolution, consensus is not always easy to define. However, scientific research has increasingly shown that human action has contributed to the great acceleration of the effects since the emergence of the era of humans.

More than just a list of causes, it is important to understand the impacts in different regions of the world, particularly in terms of the affectation on people. The populations that suffer the most from the effects of extreme weather events are the poorest, who live in close dependence on nature and therefore suffer from vulnerability without foreseeing the risks they face. The population that is most affected and often suffers from threats to their lives is forced to leave, either individually, in groups, or massively with no return date. Today, the international community recognizes the need to analyze and frame these people who seek international protection without being offered and guaranteed.

This chapter presents a discussion of the causes of the multiplication of extreme environmental events, particularly climatic events, in order to better understand the social and human implications of the production of forced social movements due to environmental causes. Although multilateral organizations recognize the existence of new categories of people in mobility for environmental reasons, there is still a gap in the framework of international law, which represents a global challenge.

This chapter analyzes whether a human rights approach can serve as a model for addressing climate change issues in India. It discusses the debate between the compatibility of aims in addressing climate change and realizing human rights, focusing on climate change issues in Uttarakhand in India. It further discusses the absence of sound adaptation policies, pointing to the violations of the social and economic rights of the populations residing in the affected regions and suggests a tangible legal framework for analyzing state action on adaptation policy in response to climate change by referring to the successful case study of early warning system in the Netherlands. The authors conclude that any strategy to deal with climate change concerning adaptation or mitigation must foresee the consequences for humans, as part of communities and individually, for which the human rights framework assumes significance.

It is quite obvious that the negative consequences of climate change will be one of the most important agendas in the near future. Many societies are developing various policies and trying to raise awareness in order to be less affected by these negativities. One of the most important keys to social awareness is undoubtedly teachers. Teachers' knowledge and awareness levels about climate change can affect the attitudes of future generations toward the causes and consequences of climate change. For this reason, in this chapter, I discuss climate change and its possible problems, the effects of climate change in Turkey and the policies carried out, public awareness of climate change, climate change awareness of teachers in Turkey and teacher education in the context of climate change. I believe that the discussions in this chapter can shed light on education policies.

The premise of this article is to demonstrate that there is a cost to getting to net zero, and this chapter will demonstrate that those that will succeed will necessarily have invested in R&D, human capital, and will have the technology to decarbonize or reduce the carbon emissions in their economy. We will look at different benchmarks that will illustrate and validate the profile of those economies which can succeed not only in terms of getting to net zero but also to attract the best talent and create new jobs. The capacity to innovate will be key, as will the ability to attract and obtain investments, or Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Are all the political and economic conditions reunited to receive such investments?

Climate change, a direct result of human activities, such as coal mining, deforestation, fossil fuels' industries, etc., has become the most pressing global challenge of the 21st century. While the environmental impact of climate change is widely recognized, its profound social consequences are equally significant. This chapter delves into the multifaceted consequences of climate change, exploring its effects on vulnerable communities, public health, migration practices, economic disparities, political stability, etc. The chapter then develops the argument that the need to combat climate change and to pay attention to its multifaceted social ramifications should be formulated as a new and separate purpose of the United Nations Organization, among other purposes, such as maintenance of international peace and security, international co-operation to ensure economic and social development, respect, and protection of human rights.

Government policy, which comprises laws, rules, regulations, standards, and incentives, is an important driver of system change. Many climate change programs, from the local to the global level, fail owing to a lack of “political will and coordination of subdimensions of public policy.” Rethinking public policy is more than a requirement; it should be examined beyond the established method of government. The literature on the function of public policy is extensive; yet, the application of complexity theory (CT) to examine climate change is limited. In this regard, this chapter seeks to examine how public policy might become more effective in combating climate change by applying CT in two dimensions: reforming national policies and renewing cosmopolitanism on a local to global scale.

Climate change is an issue which has been in the global agenda since late 19th century. Although it is not a new issue, its urgency requires every nation, agency, and individual to take actions; otherwise, the consequences would be dire. In that respect, a global effort is in place to tackle the climate change with protocols, agencies, and educational reforms. Education is considered one of the greatest powers we possess against climate change. Climate change is a complex topic, and using systems understanding is recommended in climate change education and education for sustainable development. Climate change education aims to develop an understanding, increase knowledge and skills among individuals so that we can acquire a pro-environmental behavior.

These are the Municipality Law No. 5216 and the Metropolitan Municipality Law No. 5393. The legislative body has determined it as a requirement for metropolitan municipalities to prepare strategic plans through the Public Financial Management and Control Law No. 5018. In this study, the compliance of the strategic plans prepared by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) for the period 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 with the 17 Global Development Goals of the United Nations will be examined. As a result of the study, it was aimed to compare the compatibility of both plans, which were prepared with different political understandings, with the 17 Global Development Goals. As a method in the study, the aims and objectives of the strategic plans of IMM in different periods will be codified and then their compliance with the 17 Global Development Goals will be checked. Ultimately, the study aims to contribute to the public policy literature on the responsibility of public institutions on a scale ranging from local to global in achieving policy goals.

In recent years, many nations have accelerated efforts to increase public awareness on environment and reduce the negative impact of the climate change. The European Union (EU) has been one of the most active international actors in environmental protection, implementing policies focused on providing a sustainable future for its citizens and protecting natural resources. The European Green Deal (EGD) which is a comprehensive plan with the goal of making the EU a climate-neutral zone by 2050 includes strategies, policies, and measures in numerous sectors such as economy, energy, transportation, agriculture, and industry. The EGD's targets include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, increasing the share of renewable energy at least 42.5% within the EU by 2030, promoting circular economy, and encouraging the use of low-emission vehicles (European Commission, 2020a). The Deal is set to transform the European economy into a more sustainable and low-carbon economy and fight against climate change all around the Europe and partner countries. The EU is committed to provide financial support for the actions required to address the root causes of climate change and environmental issues. This chapter examines the initiatives adopted by the EU to mitigate environmental issues and the effects of climate change in the context of the EGD. The study's objective is to assess the EU's efforts to help bring about a more sustainable environment in which negative impacts of the climate change and the release of harmful gases are significantly reduced.

In recent decades, climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing global challenges, demanding urgent action. Türkiye, a country strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has witnessed increasing concern over its vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and the need for transition toward a greener and sustainable future. This article examines Türkiye's noteworthy strides in addressing climate change both on the national and international stage. Beginning with an exploration of the context and background of climate change, the article delves into the country's climate vulnerabilities and the necessity for a comprehensive national agenda. Subsequently, it analyzes Türkiye's climate change policies and legislative developments, focusing on the states' climate change agenda, and legal and institutional frameworks. The key stakeholders and partnerships involved in climate action are also discussed. Furthermore, Türkiye's position in international climate diplomacy is scrutinized, including its participation in global climate summits, contributions to international climate agreements, and alignment with global climate goals. Ultimately, the article presents a comprehensive picture of Türkiye's political progress on climate change, highlighting both its achievements and challenges, and offering insights into the complexity of climate action and the potential for global collaboration in combatting the shared threat of climate change.