scholarly journals Trends in Attention to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 35-46
Author(s):  
Charles Wankel ◽  
Agata Stachowicz-Stanusch

In 2015 the United Nations put forth 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are intended to be largely achieved by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals are a larger follow-up to the United Nations’ Millennial Development Goals (MDGs), agreed to 2000, which were the first attempt by the UN to create metrics for improving societies that were to be used across the world (From MDGs to SDGs, n.d.). This study is on trends in attention to the SDGs, as indicated by trends in the production of academic articles on the topical areas of each of the 17 SDGs. Research related to the Sustainable Development Goals is important to see what is being prioritized and what needs to get more focus (Fayomi, 2018). The sub-goals of the SDGs are called “indicators.” Key topics and terms of the SDGs and their indicators can be used in searching Google Scholar year by year to ascertain cardinal and ordinal measures of trends in article publication related to the SDGs. This is based on the premise that attention to a particular SDG in academic literature is a valid indicator related to action by nations, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations on the SDGs. This research aims to investigate changes in the relative attention paid to SDGs by academics as indicated in the absolute and relative numbers of articles produced over the period 2010-2020 as indicated by their listing, year by year, in the Google Scholar database. Key terms were extracted from the sub-goals of the SDGs and utilized as search terms. Two search terms were used for each SDG, ad based on the data, we then focused in on the most relevant one for each SDG to examine in comparison with the others. We compare the located continuities, changes in a relative number of items produced (change in ranking) over this time frame. Theories that might be tested in future research on the source of change in the relative ranking of the SDGs are put forth.

2020 ◽  
pp. 231-242
Author(s):  
Rafiu Ibrahim Adebayo

At the United Nations Conference in Stockholm in the early 1970s, the idea of sustainable development was mooted. It became a global phenomenon in the year 2000 when the United Nations (UN) declared the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with over one hundred and eighty-nine member states and about twenty-three international organizations. With the expiry date of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came in vogue. The SDGs as a global project could only be attained through joint efforts of all sectors of human life, religion being one. In human history, religion plays significant developmental roles, hence a strong factor in attaining developmental goals. Islam in particular could not be left out in any developmental project, as it is not only a religion and but also a way of life. Indeed, the maqasid ash-shari’ah are meant for all-round development and protection of human life – religion (Din), life (Hayat), procreation (Nasl), Property (Māl) and Intellect (cAql). This study is designed to specifically relate the institution of zakat in Islam to attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with particular reference to Nigeria as a country. Historical, descriptive and exegetical methods are adopted for this purpose. The paper therefore concludes that zakat can be a veritable tool for achieving the SDGs if properly harnessed, monitored and utilized for the purpose it is meant.


2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Garcia Martinez

AbstractThe end of 2015 was the deadline that 189 countries gave themselves to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a list of eight goals that were agreed upon and approved by the UN after the Millennium Summit in year 2000. Despite some legitimate criticism, the MDGs were revealed as an important tool towards building a more equitable and sustainable world. Yet our planet still faces many challenges. In September 2015, the UN approved a new set of 17 goals, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to develop and implement strategies to create “The Future We Want”; strategies that 192 countries agreed upon to work together towards a more sustainable planet [


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-50
Author(s):  
Nuno Vasco Lopes ◽  
Kenneth Bagarukayo ◽  
Jun Cheng

In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) Member States subscribed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the 2030 Agenda (General Assembly 2015). This work makes an analysis on how Knowledge Societies can effectively contribute for the achievements of the Agenda's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, it will be presented the research overview conducted by UNU-EGOV for producing the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Knowledge Societies Handbook (UNESCO/IFAP and UNU-EGOV 2016). In addition, three countries from three different Continents of Asia, Europe and Africa - China, Portugal and Uganda respectively - will be analyzed in the context of the knowledge societies architecture proposed in the handbook. For making that analysis a set of indicators collected from the “The World Bank” (The World Bank 2016) and “International Telecommunication Union” (ITU) (ITU 2015) databases have been selected. The indicators have been interpreted taking into consideration the socio-cultural, political, and economic context of each of the three countries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-136
Author(s):  
Essam Mansour

The key purpose of this study is to investigate the potential role of Egyptian rural public libraries, being one of the social agents for development, towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals according to the United Nations Agenda for 2030. To meet the objectives and questions of the study, a multi-faceted research methodology was adopted and conducted in the period from September to November 2017. The study used a qualitative approach in terms of personal interview, discussion and observations of group meetings, and examination of documents to investigate the implementation of community development programmemes and services in 34 rural public libraries representing the four main administrative divisions comprising Egypt. The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals have been discussed with ways in which Egyptian rural public libraries can include and meet them. Challenges facing libraries in the provision of information (poor infrastructure, inappropriate collections and related facilities and services, high levels of illiteracy, lack of funding and cooperation between related agencies, inappropriate training of library and information professionals, lack of studies and surveys, as well as analyses of information needs of rural communities) have also been emphasized. This study concluded that Egyptian rural public libraries have struggled to be part of the United Nations Agenda for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. They have tried as much as possible to integrate and adapt to the surrounding community in light of the common economic, political and social factors and conditions. Despite these challenges, these libraries showed a good response that is characterized as somewhat positive, though not sufficient, toward the achievement of these goals.


Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 225
Author(s):  
Tommaso Tabanelli ◽  
Daniele Cespi ◽  
Raffaele Cucciniello

Over the last few decades, an increasing amount of interest from academia and industry has been devoted to the application of the Twelve Principles of the Green Chemistry in order to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recommended by the United Nations [...]


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina Szetey ◽  
Enayat A. Moallemi ◽  
Emma Ashton ◽  
Martin C Butcher ◽  
Beth Sprunt ◽  
...  

Sustainability planning is required to achieve sustainable development across the world at all scales. Such planning should be aligned with and grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be comparable across scales, and use participatory techniques to understand local contexts. Planning for urban sustainability using the SDGs is well developed, but this concept has not yet been extended to rural sustainability. We describe an approach to co-create a local sustainability plan using the SDGs for a rural community in south-eastern Australia using participatory techniques for co-creation, data collection and review. We found that the community believes that infrastructure is fundamental to achieving sustainable growth and social equity while preserving their unique environment. By articulating their priorities in this community-led plan, the community are empowered to advocate for the sustainable development of their town with decision-makers and funding bodies. If rural communities create sustainability plans using the SDGs, then such planning will be consistent between and across scales, and aligned with the global goals. This will also aid in achievement of the SDGs at national and global scales, as suggested by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.


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