Achieving global Sustainable Development Goals in Industry 4.0 Context through Collaborative Innovation

Smart Cities ◽

Clean Energy ◽

New Paradigm ◽

Responsible Consumption ◽

Collaborative Innovation ◽

Development Goals ◽

The Government

The sustainable development goals are a set of 17 interlinked objectives set by United Nations General Assembly to achieve a better and sustainable future by 2030. The goals include Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Responsible Consumption and Production. Currently, the industry sector is also transforming to a new paradigm called industry 4.0, which emphasizes the digitalization, interconnection, and intelligence in the frame of the internet of things, services, and people. Technological innovation, which requires interdisciplinary collaborations, is the key for industry and society to play active roles in both contributing to sustainable development goals and industry 4.0 context. The talk will discuss collaborative innovation involving universities, research organizations, large enterprises, SMEs and the government on both strategical and operative levels. It will present the strategy of triple helix innovation model and some collaboration research innovation projects that implement the model. The projects concentrate on the applications of data management and engineering methodologies such as knowledge graphs and machine learning in manufacturing, construction, and smart cities.

Development of an Interdisciplinary Master of Forestry Program Focused on Forest Management in a Changing Climate

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11060632 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 632

Author(s):

Helge Walentowski ◽

Bettina Kietz ◽

Jürgen Horsch ◽

Thomas Linkugel ◽

Wolfgang Viöl

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Natural Disturbance ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Exchange Programs ◽

Responsible Consumption ◽

Climate Action ◽

Development Goals ◽

Temperate Deciduous Forests

Concerted efforts are required to achieve the essential UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. This concept paper is focused on the development of a new Master of Forestry (MF) degree program at our University of Applied Sciences (UAS). With this move, we want to outline how capacity building and valuable synergy effects can be obtained from close cooperation in teaching and research, in order to educate our scientifically trained and practice-oriented forestry students in applying new management responses to natural disturbance impacts and sustainable use of terrestrial natural resources for forest resource-dependent communities. Specifically, we show how the emergent issues of global warming and the associated increased vulnerability of temperate deciduous forests can be tackled. Actions to overcome knowledge transfer barriers will provide sound solutions for SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 15 (life on land), and SDG 17 (partnerships to achieve the goal). Focusing on the Global Sustainable Development Goals can trigger intra and inter-faculty processes of cooperation, exchange programs, and optimized interfaces of previously separated disciplines that complement each other perfectly to form a knowledge hub.

Sustainability Orientation and Focus in Logistics and Supply Chains

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13063280 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 3280

Author(s):

Sebastjan Lazar ◽

Dorota Klimecka-Tatar ◽

Matevz Obrecht

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Supply Chain ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

Economic Sustainability ◽

Research Areas ◽

Responsible Consumption ◽

Scientific Papers ◽

Development Goals

Sustainable development, logistics, and supply chain are being combined into three increasingly connected and topical global research areas. Therefore, this paper’s novelty identifies and defines the priorities of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable development dimensions in supply-chain- and logistics-management-related studies in the last decade. Knowing logistics and supply chain sustainability focus and orientation is valuable information for researchers and managers to adapt and mitigate their business logistics according to the forecasted trends. The paper provides a systematic and comprehensive review of the literature and is based on 116 scientific papers published between 2010 and 2020 in 73 international journals in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The study defines focus with integrating environmental, social, and economic sustainability for logistics- and supply-chain-related studies. It emphasizes primary and secondary links of investigated studies with 17 United Nations sustainable development goals. The bibliometric analysis also examined keyword relations. One of the main contributions is that economic sustainability was identified as the most represented one-dimensional sustainability focus. It was revealed that supply chain studies integrated all three sustainability dimensions more frequently (50.60%) than logistics studies, which were equally related to studying two- or three-dimensions of sustainability (39.39%). The most significant findings are also that studies were identified to be oriented primarily towards “responsible consumption and production”, “industry, innovation, and infrastructure” and “affordable and clean energy” and secondary especially on “sustainable cities and communities”.

The Critical Role of the Construction Industry in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Delivering Projects for the Common Good

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13169112 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (16) ◽

pp. 9112

Author(s):

Wenmei Fei ◽

Alex Opoku ◽

Kofi Agyekum ◽

James Anthony Oppon ◽

Vian Ahmed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Construction Industry ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Critical Role ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Comparative Review ◽

Responsible Consumption ◽

Development Goals

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, which set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 169 targets and 231 unique indicators as a significant initiative towards socio-economic development. The SDGs provide the construction industry with a new lens through which global needs and desires can be translated into business solutions. This paper explores the role of the construction industry in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The paper uses an explanatory sequential design with an initial quantitative instrument phase, followed by a qualitative data collection phase. Following a comparative review of the literature on the 17 SDGs, a questionnaire was designed and administered among 130 respondents, and 105 responses were received. These data were then validated through semi-structured interviews with 16 sustainable construction experts. Data obtained from the semi-structured validation interviews were analysed through side-by-side comparisons of the qualitative data with the quantitative data. The findings show that the construction industry has a critical role in achieving almost all the 17 SDGs. The roles were, however, prevalent in 10 key SDGs, namely: sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11); climate action (SDG 13); clean water and sanitation (SDG 6); responsible consumption and production (SDG 12); industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9); life on land (biodiversity) (SDG 15); gender equality (SDG 5); good health and well-being (SDG 3); affordable and clean energy (SDG 7); decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). The study confirmed the role played by the construction industry in achieving these SDGs. The findings from this study provide further insights into the ever-increasing state-of-the-art regarding the construction industry’s role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Noise Control and its relationship with the UN Sustainable Development Goals

INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings ◽

10.3397/in-2021-2645 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 263 (2) ◽

pp. 4268-4274

Author(s):

Eoin King

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Sustainable Cities ◽

Economic Prosperity ◽

Major Development ◽

Wide Range ◽

Responsible Consumption ◽

Development Goals ◽

Almost All

This paper considers noise and its control in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainable development involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social equity, and the UN SDGs describe the major development challenges in these pursuits. The SDG Framework comprises 17 broad goals, that cover a wide range of issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water, clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, climate, responsible consumption, and production, amongst others. Although noise and its management are not clearly identified in any of the 17 goals, this paper posits that noise is an issue cross-cutting through almost all of the goals. Through the lens of the SDGs, this paper summarizes how a failure to adequately address noise presents a significant challenge to the realization of sustainable development. This paper considers noise and its control, in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainable development involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity, and the UN SDGs describe the major development challenges in these pursuits. The SDG Framework comprises of 17 broad goals, that cover a wide range of issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water, clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, climate, responsible consumption and production, amongst others. Although noise and its management are not clearly identified in any of the 17 goals, this paper posits that noise is an issue cross-cutting through almost all of the goals. Through the lens of the SDGs, this paper summarizes how a failure to address noise presents a significant challenge to the realization of these goals.

Reviewing the Role of Outdoor Lighting in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132212657 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (22) ◽

pp. 12657

Author(s):

Pedro Tavares ◽

Dmitrii Ingi ◽

Luiz Araújo ◽

Paulo Pinho ◽

Pramod Bhusal

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Smart Cities ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Well Being ◽

Good Health ◽

Climate Action ◽

Development Goals ◽

Negative Impacts

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim at providing a healthier planet for present and future generations. At the most recent SDG summit held in 2019, Member States recognized that the achievements accomplished to date have been insufficient to achieve this mission. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review of 227 documents contextualizing outdoor lighting with SDGs, showing its potential to resolve some existing issues related to the SDG targets. From a list of 17 goals, six SDGs were identified to have relevant synergies with outdoor lighting in smart cities, including SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), SDG 14 (Life below water) and SDG 15 (Life on land). This review also links efficient lighting roles partially with SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (Climate action) through Target 7.3 and Target 13.2, respectively. This paper identifies outdoor lighting as a vector directly impacting 16 of the 50 targets in the six SDGs involved. Each section in this review discusses the main aspects of outdoor lighting by a human-centric, energy efficiency and environmental impacts. Each aspect addresses the most recent studies contributing to lighting solutions in the literature, helping us to understand the positive and negative impacts of artificial lighting on living beings. In addition, the work summarizes the proposed solutions and results tackling specific topics impacting SDG demands.

Relations between UN Sustainable Development Goals and societal security. Part 2

Zeszyty Naukowe SGSP ◽

10.5604/01.3001.0015.2892 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 79 ◽

pp. 139-166

Author(s):

Tadeusz Kęsoń ◽

Paweł Gromek

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Human Life ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Decent Work ◽

Literature Study ◽

Responsible Consumption ◽

Climate Action ◽

General Survival ◽

Development Goals

Sustainable development goals constitute the main measures of risk-oriented sustainable development. The article presents the results of a literature study on the relationship between these objectives and universal security, which indeed refers to the most important utilitarian values. In the second part, attention is drawn to seven goals: ‘accessible and clean energy’, ‘economic growth and decent work’, ‘innovation, industry, infrastructure’, ‘less inequality’, ‘sustainable cities and communities’, ‘responsible consumption and production’, and ‘climate action’. As a result of the review of the Web of Science® Data Collection database, 46 articles were selected to serve as a basis for a literature survey. In the second part of the presentation of obtained research results, we proved that issues related to general survival and social development indirectly shape universal security in sustainable development, especially in the contexts of threats to human life and health, their social nature, promptness in responding to threats, and characteristics of threats. All identified relationships can be used to improve the link between universal security and sustainable development, increasing the potential to protect core utilitarian values in light of contemporary global development strategies.

Mapping the Sustainable Development Goals Relationships

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12083359 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 3359 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Luis Miguel Fonseca ◽

José Pedro Domingues ◽

Alina Mihaela Dima

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Well Being ◽

Good Health ◽

Responsible Consumption ◽

Climate Action ◽

Development Goals ◽

Health And Well Being

Sustainable development addresses humanity’s aspiration for a better life while observing the limitations imposed by nature. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly approved the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the aim to foster the organizational operationalization and integration of sustainability and, therefore, to address the current and forthcoming stakeholder needs and ensure a better and sustainable future for all, balancing the economic, social, and environmental development. However, it is not entirely clear which are the mutual relationships among the 17 SDGs and this study aims to tackle this research gap. The results of the correlation confirm that Poverty elimination (SDG1) and Good health and well-being (SDG3) have synergetic relationships with most of the other goals. SDG7 (Affordable and clean energy) has significant relationships with other SDGs (e.g., SDG1 (No poverty), SDG2 (Zero hunger), SDG3 (Good health and well-being), SDG8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG13 (Climate action)). However, there is a moderate negative correlation with SDG12 (Responsible consumption and production), which emphasizes the need to improve energy efficiency, increase the share of clean and renewable energies and improve sustainable consumption patterns worldwide. There is also confirmation that SDG12 (Responsible consumption and production) is the goal strongly associated with trade-offs. To sum up, this research suggests that change towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals offers many opportunities for reinforcing rather than inhibiting itself. However, some SDGs show no significant correlation with other SDGs (e.g., SDG13 (Climate action) and SDG17 (Partnerships for the goals), which highlights the need for future research.

Two degrees and the SDGs: a network analysis of the interlinkages between transnational climate actions and the Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainability Science ◽

10.1007/s11625-021-01007-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Johanna Coenen ◽

Lisa-Maria Glass ◽

Lisa Sanderink

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Well Being ◽

Good Health ◽

Responsible Consumption ◽

Development Goals ◽

State Actors

AbstractGiven the interconnectedness of climate change and sustainable development, policymakers and scholars have started to investigate how climate actions can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and vice versa. To date, research has mainly focused on the national and international levels, while little is known about the interlinkages between climate actions and the SDGs at the transnational level. Not only nation states, but also non-state actors undertake ambitious actions designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to promote sustainable development. Using content analysis and network analysis techniques, we examine the interlinkages between the climate actions of 72 transnational initiatives and the 169 targets of the 17 SDGs. We find that actions of 71 initiatives contribute to achieving 16 SDGs, thus generating valuable co-benefits. Besides SDG 13 on climate action and SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals, transnational climate actions frequently address SDGs 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production. While SDG 3 on good health and well-being and SDG 4 on quality education are barely addressed, SDG 5 on gender equality is not at all covered by transnational climate actions. Additionally, the network reveals that SDG 9 is highly synergistic with many other frequently addressed SDGs and functions as an important connector between them. Finally, our results indicate that transnational initiatives fill a governance gap left by states with regards to SDG 12. Climate initiatives of non-state actors can thus complement state-led actions to implement the Paris Agreement and the SDGs jointly.

Industry 4.0 and Sustainability Implications: A Scenario-Based Analysis of the Impacts and Challenges

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10103740 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 3740 ◽

Cited By ~ 101

Author(s):

Silvia Bonilla ◽

Helton Silva ◽

Marcia Terra da Silva ◽

Rodrigo Franco Gonçalves ◽

José Sacomano

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Industry 4.0 ◽

Big Data Analytics ◽

Industrial Process ◽

Raw Material ◽

Long Run ◽

Development Goals ◽

Negative Impacts

The new evolution of the production and industrial process called Industry 4.0, and its related technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data analytics, and cyber–physical systems, among others, still have an unknown potential impact on sustainability and the environment. In this paper, we conduct a literature-based analysis to discuss the sustainability impact and challenges of Industry 4.0 from four different scenarios: deployment, operation and technologies, integration and compliance with the sustainable development goals, and long-run scenarios. From these scenarios, our analysis resulted in positive or negative impacts related to the basic production inputs and outputs flows: raw material, energy and information consumption and product and waste disposal. As the main results, we identified both positive and negative expected impacts, with some predominance of positives that can be considered positive secondary effects derived from Industry 4.0 activities. However, only through integrating Industry 4.0 with the sustainable development goals in an eco-innovation platform, can it really ensure environmental performance. It is expected that this work can contribute to helping stakeholders, practitioners and governments to advance solutions to deal with the outcomes emerging through the massive adoption of those technologies, as well as supporting the expected positive impacts through policies and financial initiatives.

Why Affordable Clean Energy Is Not Enough. A Capability Perspective on the Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10072485 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 2485 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rafaela Hillerbrand

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Capability Approach ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Well Being ◽

Human Beings ◽

Energy Technologies ◽

Development Goals ◽

The Capability Approach

This paper reflects on criticisms raised in the literature on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These have been criticized as creating a dichotomy between the environment and human beings that fails to address the multiple interconnections between the two. This paper focuses on SDG7—“affordable and clean energy”—and suggests that there is in fact a tripartite distinction between the environment, human beings and technology underlying the SDGs. This distinction, we argue, does not adequately represent the multiple interconnections among the various SDGs and hampers their implementation. We contend that the formulation of SDG7 produces a circular definition of sustainability, a difficulty that is currently resolved at the level of the targets and indicators in a way that regards energy technologies primarily as artifacts. By contrast, the literature on ethical aspects of energy systems largely agrees that energy is a paradigmatic example of a sociotechnical system. We contend that, by not considering this sociotechnical nature, the SDGs run the risk of implicitly defending a certain variant of technological optimism and determinism. We argue that this is disadvantageous to the environment, human well-being and technological development. In line with recent critical evaluations of the SDGs, we argue that these (and other) shortcomings can be addressed by better connecting the SDGs to human well-being. Building on recent literature that expands the scope of the Capability Approach as an alternative measure of well-being so as to include considerations of sustainability, we articulate a framework that allows us to elucidate this connection and thus to take advantage of synergies between human well-being and the environment. On the basis of the Capability Approach, we argue that equating sustainable energy with renewable energy—as is done in the transition from SDG7’s goal to its targets—is indefensible because, as part of the overarching energy systems, energy technologies cannot be classified as simply right or wrong. Rather, the indicators and targets within a framework focused on sustainability need to be (more) context sensitive, meaning that, among other things, they may vary by country and with the available technology.