This book discusses the impacts of climate change that are already being felt on every
continent and provides the scientific basis for a number of modern approaches and state-of-the
art methods for monitoring the environment social behavior and human expectations concerning
protection of the environment. The book approaches these issues from the perspectives of
various disciplines from physics to the social sciences and highlights both current
challenges and future prospects. On 1 January 2016 the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
defined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - 12 of which involve taking action on
climate change - officially came into force. To achieve sustainable development it is and will
remain crucial to harmonize three interconnected core elements: economic growth social
inclusion and environmental protection.
