Polar regions are critical in achieving global sustainable development goals
Abstract As important components of global commons, environmental changes in polar regions are crucial to the local and global sustainability. However, they have received little attention in the current framework of sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study examines the impacts of climate cha...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59178-3 |
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| author | Xin Li Huadong Guo Guodong Cheng Xiaoyu Song Youhua Ran Min Feng Tao Che Xinwu Li Lei Wang Anmin Duan Donghui Shangguan Deliang Chen Rui Jin Jie Deng Jianbin Su Bin Cao |
| author_facet | Xin Li Huadong Guo Guodong Cheng Xiaoyu Song Youhua Ran Min Feng Tao Che Xinwu Li Lei Wang Anmin Duan Donghui Shangguan Deliang Chen Rui Jin Jie Deng Jianbin Su Bin Cao |
| author_sort | Xin Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract As important components of global commons, environmental changes in polar regions are crucial to the local and global sustainability. However, they have received little attention in the current framework of sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study examines the impacts of climate change in polar regions, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these areas with other parts of the global system. Here we show that polar regions are a limiting factor in achieving global SDGs, similar to the “shortest stave” in Liebig’s barrel, primarily due to the teleconnection effects of climate tipping elements. Proactive actions should ensure polar regions aren’t left behind in achieving global SDGs. We proposed a specific SDG target and five indicators for the interconnected effect of the cryosphere on climate actions and incorporate considerations for Indigenous peoples in polar regions. With the right actions and strengthened global partnerships, polar regions can be pivotal for advancing global sustainable development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-258dc574831e4b32a831f5b3788d2811 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-258dc574831e4b32a831f5b3788d28112025-08-20T03:53:32ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-59178-3Polar regions are critical in achieving global sustainable development goalsXin Li0Huadong Guo1Guodong Cheng2Xiaoyu Song3Youhua Ran4Min Feng5Tao Che6Xinwu Li7Lei Wang8Anmin Duan9Donghui Shangguan10Deliang Chen11Rui Jin12Jie Deng13Jianbin Su14Bin Cao15National Tibetan Plateau Data Center (TPDC), State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesInternational Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development GoalsKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Tibetan Plateau Data Center (TPDC), State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of SciencesInternational Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development GoalsNational Tibetan Plateau Data Center (TPDC), State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen UniversityKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of SciencesRegional Climate Group, Department of Earth Sciences, University of GothenburgKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Tibetan Plateau Data Center (TPDC), State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Tibetan Plateau Data Center (TPDC), State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract As important components of global commons, environmental changes in polar regions are crucial to the local and global sustainability. However, they have received little attention in the current framework of sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study examines the impacts of climate change in polar regions, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these areas with other parts of the global system. Here we show that polar regions are a limiting factor in achieving global SDGs, similar to the “shortest stave” in Liebig’s barrel, primarily due to the teleconnection effects of climate tipping elements. Proactive actions should ensure polar regions aren’t left behind in achieving global SDGs. We proposed a specific SDG target and five indicators for the interconnected effect of the cryosphere on climate actions and incorporate considerations for Indigenous peoples in polar regions. With the right actions and strengthened global partnerships, polar regions can be pivotal for advancing global sustainable development.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59178-3 |
| spellingShingle | Xin Li Huadong Guo Guodong Cheng Xiaoyu Song Youhua Ran Min Feng Tao Che Xinwu Li Lei Wang Anmin Duan Donghui Shangguan Deliang Chen Rui Jin Jie Deng Jianbin Su Bin Cao Polar regions are critical in achieving global sustainable development goals Nature Communications |
| title | Polar regions are critical in achieving global sustainable development goals |
| title_full | Polar regions are critical in achieving global sustainable development goals |
| title_fullStr | Polar regions are critical in achieving global sustainable development goals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Polar regions are critical in achieving global sustainable development goals |
| title_short | Polar regions are critical in achieving global sustainable development goals |
| title_sort | polar regions are critical in achieving global sustainable development goals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59178-3 |
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