Potential Trade-Offs between the Sustainable Development Goals in Coastal Bangladesh

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for a comprehensive new approach to development rooted in planetary boundaries, equity, and inclusivity. The wide scope of the SDGs will necessitate unprecedented integration of siloed policy portfolios to work at international, regional, and national levels toward multiple goals and mitigate the conflicts that arise from competing resource demands. In this analysis, we adopt a comprehensive modeling approach to understand how coherent policy combinations can manage trade-offs among environmental conservation initiatives and food prices. Our scenario results indicate that SDG strategies constructed around Sustainable Consumption and Production policies can minimize problem-shifting, which has long placed global development and conservation agendas at odds. We conclude that Sustainable Consumption and Production policies (goal 12) are most effective at minimizing trade-offs and argue for their centrality to the formulation of coherent SDG strategies. We also find that alternative socioeconomic futures—mainly, population and economic growth pathways—generate smaller impacts on the eventual achievement of land resource–related SDGs than do resource-use and management policies. We expect that this and future systems analyses will allow policy-makers to negotiate trade-offs and exploit synergies as they assemble sustainable development strategies equal in scope to the ambition of the SDGs.

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Farmer-Prioritized Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies

Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190949501.003.0021 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 423-445

Author(s):

Caroline Mwongera ◽

Chris M. Mwungu ◽

Mercy Lungaho ◽

Steve Twomlow

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Development Goals ◽

Smart Agriculture ◽

Study Sites ◽

Context Specific

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) focuses on productivity, climate-change adaptation, and mitigation, and the potential for developing resilient food production systems that lead to food and income security. Lately, several frameworks and tools have been developed to prioritize context-specific CSA technologies and assess the potential impacts of selected options. This study applied a mixed-method approach, the climate-smart agriculture rapid appraisal (CSA-RA) tool, to evaluate farmers’ preferred CSA technologies and to show how they link to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The chapter examines prioritized CSA options across diverse study sites. The authors find that the prioritized options align with the food security and livelihood needs of smallholder farmers, and relate to multiple sustainable development goals. Specifically, CSA technologies contribute to SDG1 (end poverty), SDG2 (end hunger and promote sustainable agriculture), SDG13 (combating climate change), and SDG15 (life on land). Limited awareness on the benefits of agriculture technologies and the diversity of outcomes desired by stakeholders’ present challenges and trade-offs for achieving the SDGs. The CSA-RA provides a methodological approach linking locally relevant indicators to the SDG targets.

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The Nexus between the Austrian Forestry Sector and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Review of the Interlinkages

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10030205 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 205 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Reneema Hazarika ◽

Robert Jandl

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Policy Design ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Opinion Leaders ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Forestry Sector ◽

Development Goals

Since the inception of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, there has been much conceptual progress on the linkages across the 17 goals and their 169 targets. While this kind of conceptualization is an essential first step, action must now move towards systematic policy design, implementation, and multi-stakeholder collaborations that can translate such understanding into concrete results. This study is a reality check of such quasi-political global development agendas by the United Nations and its implications on Austrian forestry. Although forestry is not a goal in itself, forests as an element have been included under SDG15 (Life on Land). In this study, the linkages of forestry with potential synergies or trade-offs within and between the SDGs have been assessed through a literature survey and complemented with the perception of opinion leaders across the Austrian forestry sector on the same. The insights about awareness, design, implementation, and the necessity of mainstreaming the SDGs into the policy structure of Austria were reviewed. Besides facilitating the goals of sustainable forest management (SFM) in Austria, the SDG15 is not only strongly related to, but is likely to aid, the achievement of other SDGs, such as human health (SDG3), provision of clean water (SDG6), affordable & clean energy (SDG7), and climate action (SDG13). The opinion leaders perceive the SDGs as well-placed but broad. Some this broadness is a positive aspect of the SDGs. On the other hand, the 15-year (2015–2030) tenure of the SDGs is perceived to be inadequate to match the temporal scale of forest development. Apparently, the success of the SDGs will strictly depend upon coordination, governance, and most importantly, awareness among all stakeholders. Therefore, in addition to “leaving no one behind”, the SDGs must evidently provide incentives benefitting everybody.

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Water-energy-food nexus perspective: Pathway for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to country action in India

APN Science Bulletin ◽

10.30852/sb.2020.1067 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 34-40

Author(s):

Bijon Kumer Mitra ◽

Devesh Sharma ◽

Tetsuo Kuyama ◽

Bao Ngoc Pham ◽

G.M. Tarekul Islam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Water Security ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Development Goals ◽

Barriers And Challenges ◽

Business As Usual ◽

Perception Survey

Water, energy and food securities lie at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since these securities are interconnected, the business-as-usual approach (sectoral approach) cannot achieve them and need to apply the water-energy-food nexus approach for identifying and overcoming the roots of barriers and challenges. The study aims to prioritize interlinkages between SDG-2 (food security), SDG-6 (water security) and SDG-7 (energy security) for country action. In order to achieve this aim, the study implements a set of methods including stakeholder perception survey, network analysis, regression analysis and cross-sectorial group discussion. This article summarizes the outcomes of a case study in India. Stakeholders cognition derived through scrutinizing the perception survey admitted the need for a nexus approach in the action plans towards the SDGs. Quantitative assessment of interdependency showed that, of 182 interlinkages between SDG-2, SDG-6 and SDG-7 targets, 124 interlinkages had synergistic relation. The combined outcome of the cross-sectorial group discussion identified eight interlinkages as high priority (p>0.9) for immediate integrated planning and action. A total of ten interactions are moderate (p=0.6 to 0.9) and eight are low priority interlinkages (p<0.6). Solid understanding of synergies and trade-offs associated with SDG targets and initial prioritization of interlinkages would help India reorient its SDG priorities from a water-energy-food nexus perspective.

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Mapping synergies and trade-offs between urban ecosystems and the sustainable development goals

Environmental Science & Policy ◽

10.1016/j.envsci.2018.12.010 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 ◽

pp. 181-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Mikaël J.A. Maes ◽

Kate E. Jones ◽

Mireille B. Toledano ◽

Ben Milligan

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Urban Ecosystems ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Development Goals

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Snakes and ladders: World development pathways’ synergies and trade-offs through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals

Journal of Cleaner Production ◽

10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122147 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 267 ◽

pp. 122147 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

George Philippidis ◽

Lindsay Shutes ◽

Robert M’Barek ◽

Tévécia Ronzon ◽

Andrzej Tabeau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Development Goals ◽

World Development

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Synergies and Trade-Offs in the Sustainable Development Goals—The Implications of the Icelandic Tourism Sector

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11154223 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (15) ◽

pp. 4223

Author(s):

David Cook ◽

Nína Saviolidis ◽

Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir ◽

Lára Jóhannsdóttir ◽

Snjólfur Ólafsson

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Economic Sectors ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Cruise Ships ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Tourism Sector ◽

Development Goals ◽

Governance Institutions ◽

And Performance

The development of major economic sectors can provide the bedrock on which long-lasting national economic prosperity is formed. Iceland’s tourism sector is an example of a rapidly expanded industry in recent years, to the extent that it has become the largest sectoral contributor to the nation’s economy. The growth of the sector has led to a number of sustainability impacts, thus presenting opportunities and challenges in terms of meeting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Using the case study of Iceland, this paper aims to advance the conceptual understanding of the synergies and trade-offs between a nation’s tourism sector and performance across the 169 targets of the SDGs. Empirical results were derived from four theme-based focus groups comprised of expert participants, who were tasked with completing scoresheets concerning their perception of the extent of synergies and trade-offs for each target. The majority (126 in number) of the mean scoresheet outcomes for the SDG targets revealed neither synergies nor trade-offs. However, 32 synergies and 11 trade-offs were identified. Many of the target synergies related to new economic opportunities, such as jobs, employment, and training for young people. Target trade-offs tended to be environmental and social. In particular, concern was voiced about the greenhouse gas emissions of the Icelandic tourism sector, which derives from international aviation, cruise ships, and rental car usage. The outcomes of this study are of particular relevance to tourism companies, policy-makers, and governance institutions, all of whom are increasingly endeavouring to link their activities with the fulfilment of the SDGs, maximising synergies, mitigating the extent of any potential trade-offs, and potentially transforming trade-offs into synergies. Furthermore, the results are likely of interest to academics focused on researching the broad sustainability impacts of economic sectors and their contribution to meeting the visionary goals of the SDGs.

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Towards Understanding Interactions between Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of Climate-Well-Being Linkages. Experiences of EU Countries

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14072025 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. 2025

Author(s):

Agnieszka Sompolska-Rzechuła ◽

Agnieszka Kurdyś-Kujawska

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Well Being ◽

Good Health ◽

Linear Ordering ◽

Health Crisis ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Eu Countries ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Development Goals

The 2030 Agenda with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a challenge for all countries in the world. Their implementation may turn out to be a compromise or the creation of effective interactions that dynamize sustainable development. To achieve the SDGs, it is essential to understand how they interact with each other. It seems that in the times of the climate and health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for the environment and ensuring a healthy life and promoting well-being at all ages is the basis for environmental, economic and social sustainable development. The aim of the study is to compare the degree of implementation of the goals of sustainable development in the scope of goal 13 “Climate action” and goal 3 “Good health and well-being” in the EU countries. In addition, we analyze how trade-offs and synergies between these goals have developed. Data from the Eurostat database were used to achieve the goal. The study used the method of multivariate comparative analysis—linear ordering of objects. The technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) method was used to measure the studied phenomenon. The results indicate a different degree of implementation of the sustainable development goals related to climate change and the improvement of health and social well-being. Only a few countries have synergy in achieving these goals, most of them compromise, manifesting themselves in improving one goal over another. In the group of analyzed EU countries, a simultaneous deterioration in the effectiveness of achieving both objectives were also noted. Our research also shows that energy policy is an important attribute in improving the achievement of these goals. The conducted analysis fills the gap in the research on the implementation of selected sustainable development goals and their interactions. It contributes to the discussion on increasing the links between them, in particular with regard to emerging compromises. This research can provide a basis for re-prioritizing and intensifying the actions where individual EU countries are lagging most behind.

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Synergies and Trade-offs between Sanitation and the Sustainable Development Goals

10.14324/111.444/000054.v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

priti parikh ◽

loan diep ◽

pascale hofmann ◽

Julia Tomei ◽

Luiza Campos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Evidence Base ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Sanitation Services ◽

Link Type ◽

Published Evidence ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Development Goals ◽

Context Specific

To better leverage opportunities arising out of sustainable and inclusive management of sanitation services there is a need for robust and comprehensive evidence of the wide ranging benefits that sanitation can deliver. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable development broken down into 169 interconnected Targets which are articulated under 17 Goals. Based on a methodology developed at University College London (UCL), this study identifies linkages between sanitation and the 169 Targets corroborated by published evidence. We show that there are synergies between sanitation and all 17 Goals and 130 (77%) of the Targets, and trade-offs for 28 (17%) of the Targets. We identified 83 Targets (49%) that call for action in the sanitation sector. The results demonstrate the far-reaching benefits that can be unlocked from investment in sanitation, which extend beyond health and spread across sectors. The evidence base for the 17 goals establishes links that can inform cross-sectoral action, collaborations and investment across governance levels for integrated sanitation solutions. The research provides different stakeholders with a framework that can be applied to context specific cases and projects. We propose a range of recommendations to policy-makers, practitioners, and researchers who seek to take this study further to help achieve the SDGs.

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Actions to Align Energy Projects With the Sustainable Development Goals

10.21203/rs.3.rs-129731/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Constança Martins Leite de Almeida ◽

Elin Bergqvist ◽

Scott Thacker ◽

Francesco Fuso Nerini

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Scientific Literature ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

2030 Agenda ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Starting Point ◽

Energy Projects ◽

Development Goals

Abstract The 2030 Agenda is an aspiring set of goals and targets that aims to prompt humanity towards a sustainable development by 2030. In order to achieve this, actions that mitigate trade-offs and enhance synergies within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) need to be identified. However, for the energy sector these actions are dispersed across the scientific literature, which is a clear barrier to encourage practitioners to have a proactive and pragmatic approach towards the SDGs. For this reason, a set of actions for energy projects was compiled. This compilation addresses the synergies and trade-offs identified in the Sustainable Development Goals Impact Assessment Framework for Energy Projects (SDG-IAE). One case study was used to test the actions, the lighthouse Project VARGA. Subsequently, an analysis was conducted to understand how possible actions can impact different technologies, project stages, actors and SDG targets. In this way, enabling policymakers and project developers to define areas of action when evaluating policies or considering specific intervention. This article aims to be the starting point of stakeholder discussions that consistently frame energy projects within the achievement of the SDGs.

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