Abstract
All prominent leaders, managers, researchers, and specialists worldwide position the positive and constructive contributions for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the centre of their activities and interests due to the power that the international community holds in reaching all SDG targets and achieving a global partnership for sustainable development (SD). The focal point of this study is represented by individuals' self-belief to fight against climate change and utilizes valuable data from the European Social Survey (ESS) Wave 10 in 2020 on two main areas: the impact that large numbers of people limiting their energy use might have on climate change and the causes of climate change which could be represented by natural processes, human activity, or both. The findings show that more than half of those individuals in the sample are taking bold and transformative steps towards a better future for all choosing sustainability, being more likely to have positive attitudes about individual efforts to control climate change, centering on reducing their energy consumption.
TopIntroduction
This study on the novel and original theme describing the “Dynamics of Self-Belief to Fight against Climate Change: Evidence from European Social Survey” is part of the pivotal book entitled “Positive and Constructive Contributions for Sustainable Development Goals”.
In this section represented by the “Introduction” to this study, the authors mention the importance of the topic chosen for the current analysis, based on the fact that the dynamics of individuals’ self-belief to fight against climate change in order to successfully reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represents a major concern these days for all interested individuals and, probably mainly, for reputed scholars, researchers, and professors worldwide. A first argument in this regard could rely on the fact that human nature is highly unpredictable and the decisions one takes most often affect not only the person itself but the entire population. A second argument in this matter could be that people have always relied on the power and the strength nature itself brought in their lives, since there is a strong bond between the environment and individuals. It should be added at this point that individuals depend on nature and its capacity to regenerate, bring resources, and influence, at a large scale, people’s general health and state of mind, mental health, happiness, and all activities that take place. A third argument in this regard could constitute in the fact that people are the ones responsible for maintaining the biodiversity of our planet Earth and the health of the ecosystems, thus being able to find the necessary potential to continue their lives in a healthy and sustainable way in this environment. A fourth argument in this case could be represented by the fact that individuals’ interest tend to differ from one moment to another, from one situation to another, which may lead to unfortunate and, in some cases, damaging activities and decisions that may lead to harming the environment, other living beings, and other people in a direct or and indirect manner. A fifth argument in this current matter could be represented by the fact that individuals’ self-beliefs regarding the importance of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in general, and in fighting against climate change, in particular, might depend on several factors, such as, for example: the education level, the age level, the gender, the marital status, the involvement in a petition/claim, the capacity and desire to be social and get involved in social activities either with their close family or with their friends and colleagues, the health status and the mental state of mind, the trust in scientists and relevant studies, the political orientation, the satisfaction with life, the general happiness, the migrant statues, and the religiosity aspects. All in all, human activity influences the environment in which individuals live in far more than the natural processes might do. Besides all that, specialists might even argue that, in most regions and countries around the world, the natural processes have been severely affected by human activity, which led to real natural disasters that are still affecting the lives of the inhabitants of those areas.
In continuation, in this introductory section the authors point out the general perspective of the chapter, since it represents a decisive matter in both choosing the theme and arranging the format of this current work. On the one hand, the general perspective of the chapter is represented by acknowledging the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in our lives as well as the power that is conferred to all people around the Globe when centring our activities and interests on these bold objectives and important targets meant to make our lives better and more secure. On the other hand, the general perspective of the chapter is represented by analysing and understanding the implications that climate change brought in the last decades in individuals’ lives as well as the vital fight against climate change for which all people and entities should be held responsible.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Global Economic Environment (GEE): The Global Economic Environment (GEE) is highly dependent on direct and indirect variables, since there is a very fragile equilibrium between the natural resources of our planet and the economic possibilities that nations possess; nevertheless, taking good care of the natural resources of Earth and finding ways to cope with different types of crisis (such as, for instance, the economic and financial crisis; the energy crisis; the natural resources crisis; different forms of crisis derived from epidemics and pandemics – the COVID-19 pandemic and crisis), since our great task is to preserve today’s resources not solely for us, and our families, but also for the future generations.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are supported by “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, adopted by all the United Nations Member States in 2015; these Global Goals highlight, on the one hand, the importance of life on planet Earth in accordance to the world leaders and the governmental officials’ desire to enhance climate action while trying to cope with the immediate and imminent results of rapid climate change and, on the other hand, the necessity to find viable, robust, and long term solutions to become more prosperous, while living in peace and harmony with nature (United Nations (UN), 2022).
Climate Action: Taking climate action has become a must these days, due to the prolonged and unprecedented challenges that climate change has on our planet; in this matter, the “Paris Agreement” brings to light the “development priorities” plan of world’s leaders which relies on taking immediate measures to reduce the greenhouse gases, to create national and international legislation capable to cope with the effects of climate change and to support actions towards reducing its effects, to eradicate poverty, and to support sustainable development (SD) (United Nations (UN), 2015d; United Nations (UN), 2022).
Climate Change: These days, climate change seriously and irreversibly affected our lives and our communities, which led to the utmost necessity to find solutions capable to enhance the efforts of individuals and of entities worldwide to take climate action and become more responsible and more sustainable; in continuation, it ought to be pointed out that according to studies, climate change mainly affects developing countries, vulnerable groups, biodiversity and ecosystems (United Nations (UN), 2015d; United Nations (UN), 2022).
Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the “Paris Agreement” support the Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies which are intended to act as guidelines and frameworks for countries and regions worldwide in order to take differentiated and targeted action depending on the “national circumstances” surrounding the pollution levels; in this matter, authorities believe that this is a problem that can only be solved with common efforts, although it requires “differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” (United Nations (UN), 2015d; United Nations (UN), 2022).
European Social Survey (ESS): Based on the information found on the official website of the European Social Survey (ESS), it ought to be mentioned that is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium known as ESS-ERIC (European Social Survey European Research Infrastructure (ESS ERIC), 2022c).
Climate Services and Decision-Making in Supporting Climate Action: Nowadays, climate services capable to support resilient, robust and wise decision-making in terms of sustainable climate action represent the most valuable solution especially in times of crisis; these services strongly depend on the advances that science has to offer which are interrelated with the powerful sustainable development (SD) plans designed through innovation, research, and common scientific knowledge and effort; the transfer of technology projects are vital to the development of nations at a global level, especially in the case of developing countries which have a lot to benefit from these exchanges of ideas, information, and knowledge (United Nations (UN), 2015d; United Nations (UN), 2022).
Development and Enhancement of Relevant Climate Action Plans and Strategies: According to reputed international specialists, the development and enhancement of relevant climate action plans and strategies come to support the success of all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), since all the actions taken by both individuals and entities have the capacity to help authorities prioritize the measures that ought to be taken in terms of assessing and addressing the climate change vulnerabilities and solutions; what is more, not only people are the ones vulnerable in the way of climate change, but also the biodiversity and the ecosystems; furthermore, the policies that address the case of climate change need to become a priority for all governments and for all nations in order to be able to support unanimously the “resilience of socioeconomic and ecological systems” as well as the “economic diversification and sustainable management of natural resources” (United Nations (UN), 2015d; United Nations (UN), 2022).