SDG 13 Targets: What They Mean and Why They Matter
Sustainable Development Goal 13 (SDG 13) calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Its targets set out how countries can prepare for climate-related hazards, include climate action in public policy, strengthen education and mobilise support—particularly for countries and communities with fewer resources.
The targets cover both reducing the causes of climate change, known as mitigation, and preparing for its effects, known as adaptation. They also recognise that effective climate action depends on funding, knowledge and the involvement of local communities.
The five SDG 13 targets
Target 13.1: Build resilience to climate-related hazards
Target 13.1 aims to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. This includes helping people and institutions prepare for risks such as floods, droughts, heatwaves and storms, and recover when they occur.
Practical measures can include early-warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, emergency planning and protecting natural buffers such as wetlands and forests. The target emphasises that preparedness and resilience need to be built at national and local levels.
Target 13.2: Integrate climate action into policies and planning
Target 13.2 calls on countries to integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. Rather than treating climate action as a separate issue, governments are encouraged to consider it when making decisions about energy, transport, housing, agriculture, industry and land use.
This can help ensure that development plans support emissions reductions and prepare communities for climate impacts. It also allows climate risks and opportunities to be considered across different areas of government.
Target 13.3: Improve climate education and capacity
Target 13.3 focuses on education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity. It covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
Climate education can help people understand the causes and consequences of climate change and make informed choices. Training and stronger institutions can also help governments, organisations and communities plan and deliver effective action.
Target 13.a: Mobilise climate finance
Target 13.a addresses financial support for climate action in developing countries. Its original wording calls for developed countries to implement their commitment under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to mobilise US$100 billion per year by 2020, from a variety of sources, to meet the needs of developing countries. It also calls for the full operationalisation of the Green Climate Fund through its capitalisation as soon as possible.
Climate finance can support projects such as renewable energy, flood protection, resilient agriculture and early-warning systems. The target highlights the importance of predictable funding for countries facing significant climate risks and with limited resources to respond.
Target 13.b: Support climate planning in the most vulnerable countries
Target 13.b promotes mechanisms to raise capacity for effective climate-change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States. It specifically highlights the importance of including women, young people and local and marginalised communities.
These groups can face particular risks from climate impacts, while also bringing valuable knowledge and experience to planning. Inclusive decision-making can make climate policies more practical, fair and responsive to local needs.
How progress is measured
The UN’s global indicator framework uses indicators to track progress towards SDG 13. These cover issues including disaster-related impacts, climate policies, education and national reporting. Indicators help show where action is taking place, but they do not capture every aspect of climate resilience or the lived experience of affected communities.
Why the targets matter
The SDG 13 targets connect climate action with wider development goals. Preparing for climate hazards can protect lives and livelihoods, while integrating climate measures into planning can support cleaner and more resilient development. Education, finance and inclusive decision-making help turn commitments into action.
Progress depends on cooperation between governments, communities, businesses, researchers and civil society. The targets provide a shared framework for that work, while recognising that climate risks and the resources available to address them are not evenly distributed.
9 Essential Tips for Achieving SDG 13: Climate Action Targets
- Build resilience to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
- Include climate adaptation in local and national plans.
- Cut greenhouse gas emissions across homes, travel and business.
- Teach climate change awareness and practical action.
- Train people and institutions to plan for climate impacts.
- Support the UN climate convention and its commitments.
- Help mobilise climate finance for developing countries.
- Back climate planning in least developed countries and small island states.
- Track progress towards climate targets and share results.
Build resilience to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
Building resilience to climate-related hazards and natural disasters means helping communities prepare for events such as floods, heatwaves, droughts and storms, as well as recover from them. This can involve improving early-warning systems, strengthening infrastructure, protecting natural defences such as wetlands, and making emergency plans that reach everyone. By identifying risks in advance and including local knowledge in decision-making, countries can reduce harm, protect livelihoods and help communities adapt to a changing climate.
Include climate adaptation in local and national plans.
Including climate adaptation in local and national plans helps communities prepare for the effects of climate change, from heatwaves and droughts to flooding and storms. Governments can assess local risks and build practical measures into decisions about housing, transport, infrastructure, health and land use. Planning at both levels helps ensure that national policies respond to local needs, while giving communities the resources and support to strengthen resilience and protect people, livelihoods and essential services.
Cut greenhouse gas emissions across homes, travel and business.
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions across homes, travel and business is essential to achieving SDG 13 and limiting climate change. Households can reduce energy use by improving insulation, choosing efficient appliances and using renewable electricity. Cleaner travel options—such as walking, cycling, public transport and electric vehicles—can lower emissions from transport. Businesses can also make a difference by improving energy efficiency, switching to renewable power and reducing emissions throughout their supply chains. Together, these changes can help build a lower-carbon future.
Teach climate change awareness and practical action.
Teaching climate change awareness and practical action helps people understand the causes and effects of climate change—and what they can do in response. Schools, community groups and workplaces can make climate learning relevant through local examples, discussions and hands-on activities, such as saving energy, reducing waste or planning for heatwaves and flooding. This supports SDG 13’s focus on education, awareness-raising and the skills needed to mitigate climate change, adapt to its impacts and build more resilient communities.
Train people and institutions to plan for climate impacts.
Training people and institutions to plan for climate impacts helps communities prepare for challenges such as heatwaves, floods, droughts and storms. Practical training can equip local officials, emergency services, businesses and community groups to assess risks, develop early-warning plans and protect essential services. Building this knowledge and capacity supports SDG 13 by strengthening resilience and helping ensure that climate action is effective, inclusive and suited to local needs.
Support the UN climate convention and its commitments.
Supporting the UN climate convention means backing international cooperation to limit climate change and help countries respond to its impacts. The Paris Agreement, adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), sets a shared goal of limiting global warming, while recognising that countries have different responsibilities and capacities. Governments can support these commitments by setting and strengthening climate plans, reporting transparently on progress and providing climate finance and practical assistance to developing countries. Public understanding and engagement also matter: informed communities can encourage leaders to turn international promises into meaningful action at home and around the world.
Help mobilise climate finance for developing countries.
Supporting climate finance for developing countries helps turn climate plans into practical action. Funding can enable communities to prepare for floods, droughts and extreme heat, strengthen essential infrastructure and invest in cleaner energy. Governments, businesses, financial institutions and individuals can all contribute by backing transparent initiatives that direct resources towards locally led solutions and the communities most exposed to climate risks.
Back climate planning in least developed countries and small island states.
Support climate planning in least developed countries and small island developing States by helping them build the skills, resources and institutions needed to prepare for climate impacts. Effective planning can strengthen early-warning systems, protect homes and livelihoods, and guide investment towards resilient infrastructure. It should involve women, young people and local and marginalised communities, whose knowledge and experiences are vital to creating practical, inclusive solutions.
Track progress towards climate targets and share results.
Tracking progress towards SDG 13 targets helps show whether climate policies and actions are making a difference. Set clear indicators, review them regularly and use reliable, up-to-date data to identify achievements and gaps. Share the results in accessible language with communities, partners and decision-makers so they can understand what is working, hold organisations to account and help shape the next steps.