Mapping interactions between the sustainable development goals: lessons learned and ways forward

Abstract

Pursuing integrated research and decision-making to advance action on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) fundamentally depends on understanding interactions between the SDGs, both negative ones (“trade-offs”) and positive ones (“co-benefits”). This quest, triggered by the 2030 Agenda, has however pointed to a gap in current research and policy analysis regarding how to think systematically about interactions across the SDGs. This paper synthesizes experiences and insights from the application of a new conceptual framework for mapping and assessing SDG interactions using a defined typology and characterization approach. Drawing on results from a major international research study applied to the SDGs on health, energy and the ocean, it analyses how interactions depend on key factors such as geographical context, resource endowments, time horizon and governance. The paper discusses the future potential, barriers and opportunities for applying the approach in scientific research, in policy making and in bridging the two through a global SDG Interactions Knowledge Platform as a key mechanism for assembling, systematizing and aggregating knowledge on interactions.

Local lens for SDG implementation: lessons from bottom-up approaches in Africa

“…Weitz et al (2018) pointed out three main approaches that have been taken when assessing and conceptualizing the interactions between SDGs. First, the most common approach when addressing SDGs interactions is focused on studying one or some specific goals and then exploring how it relates or affects other goals (e.g., Vladimirova and Le Blanc 2016; Nilsson et al 2018;Jaramillo et al 2019). A second approach analyses how a subset of goals or targets interacts among themselves (e.g., Collste et al 2017).…”

Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals in Building Projects

“…When comparing the methods and findings of this paper with the available literature, it was clear that they are better geared towards the ideation and early design phases of building projects. Additionally, the approach to the SDGs proposed in this research echoed that which was used by researchers outside the field of construction and buildings [12,71,75,128,129].…”

“…Other research, which focused on healthcare, energy and even urban ecosystems, was able to explore the relations between these particular sectors and the 2030 Agenda on a comprehensive level. Common to their findings is the broad connections, synergies and trade-offs across all the 17 SDGs-highlighting the potential of each sector, strategy, project or plan to address any of the goals [12,71,75,128,129]. The design questions and links presented in Appendix 1 could be used as a starting point for researchers to explore the broad interactions and synergies between construction and the 2030 agenda.…”

“…are structured around what are commonly known as the five Ps (Planet, Prosperity, Peace, People and Partnership) and are considered to be comprehensive to both human and natural needs [17,39,[68][69][70]. Since the 2030 agenda came into effect at the beginning of 2016, there has been an increasing number of publications, by both academics and practitioners, which aim at analyzing its goals and targets; exploring its implementation means, processes and progress; studying its connection with existing policies and practices; or criticizing its economic growth focus or the contradictions within its targets [16,18,69,[71][72][73][74]. Some of the available work also explores the consequences and links between the targets of the SDGs and specific economic sectors [75][76][77].…”

A Plot for Sustainability &ndash; The Sustainable Development Goals as A Narrative<strong> </strong>

“…Thus a simple narrative model accessible for public and policy discourse, is linked to a scientific evidence-based framework that supports monitoring and management of this complex socialecological system [30], on a firm foundation of sustainable development [27,31] and blue economy [5,6]. The value of this 'coral reef SDG model' is in its simplicity -expressing how and why natural assets are fundamental to multiple aspects of human economy and society, and to help express how blue economy and sustainable development intersect.…”