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By: M. Nishant
Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies, Kalitheerthalkuppam, Puducherry, India.
Abstract
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (Life on Land) are critical for tackling the escalating environmental challenges faced by India. Climate change and environmental degradation pose serious threats to the nation’s unique geographic and ecological diversity, with profound implications for its water resources, marine ecosystems, and terrestrial landscapes. These challenges disrupt biodiversity, compromise ecosystem services, and jeopardize the livelihoods of millions who depend on these natural systems, particularly in rural and coastal areas. The study adopts a qualitative approach to evaluate the efficacy of mixed methods in analyzing the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It explores key drivers, including unsustainable water resource management, pollution, deforestation, habitat loss, and overexploitation of marine resources, which exacerbate ecological vulnerabilities. The findings highlight significant gaps in current policies and practices, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary and integrated approach to sustainable development. Greater emphasis is placed on community engagement, participatory decision-making, and capacity building at local levels to ensure inclusive and context-specific solutions. The study also underscores the importance of aligning national and regional policies to address climate-related risks comprehensively while fostering long-term resilience in water resource management. Moreover, this research demonstrates the critical role of improved policy coherence and adaptive water resource engineering practices in mitigating climate impacts and preserving aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. Achieving the SDGs requires a concerted focus on the intersection of engineering innovation, ecological preservation, and socio-economic development. By fostering sustainable practices and promoting inclusive community involvement, this study provides actionable insights into safeguarding India’s ecosystems and ensuring the resilience of its water resources in the face of ongoing and future challenges.
Keywords: Climate, marine, biodiversity, ecosystem, sustainable, resource, conservation, target, degradation, species, environment, development, challenges
Citation:
Refrences:
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