scholarly journals A Review of Corporate Purpose: An Approach to Actioning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3899
Author(s):  
Dayana Jimenez ◽  
Isabel B. Franco ◽  
Tahlia Smith
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Journal Article ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Ethics Management ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sustainability Challenges ◽  
Business As Usual

This journal article explores Corporate Purpose as an approach to action the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It achieves this objective by presenting a review of existing literature on Corporate Purpose and SDGs from the disciplines of business ethics, management studies, economics and psychology. The review showcases contributions exploring whether and how Corporate Purpose-led strategy facilitates the operationalization of the SDGs and proposes an emerging research agenda. This article employed an inductive approach methodology through grounded theory to develop a critical analysis of scientific evidence-based work for theory construction on Corporate Purpose. One of the major findings of this review is that to achieve the SDGs companies need to shift found from the “business as usual” approach, which perceives sustainability as an externality, to incorporating sustainability factors in the company’s underlying purpose. The article also (1) identifies trends in research outputs and reveals five major antecedents of the phenomenon (drivers to purpose), (2) identifies key gaps within the existing literature, (3) distinguishes three current approaches to Corporate Purpose and (4) elaborates on current theories of Corporate Purpose and SDGs linkages to identify opportunities and aid future research. In summary, this article unpacks Corporate Purpose mechanisms to action the SDGs and stimulates academic discussion of business transformational approaches to long-standing sustainability challenges.

scholarly journals Water-Energy-Food Accessibility and Tracking Progress towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the Savannah Region of Katsina State, Nigeria

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 3595
Author(s):  
Yahaya Sani ◽  
Miklas Scholz
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Pairwise Comparison ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Food Accessibility ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecological Regions ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

Although remarkable progress has been achieved in reducing hunger and poverty and improving people’s health in the past couple of decades, humanity still faces considerable socio-economic and sustainability challenges. Ensuring sustainable access to safe and sufficient water, improved sanitation facilities, clean energy sources and healthy food is a necessary requirement for ending hunger and poverty, advancing health and achieving all the goals of the sustainable development agenda. Socio-economic variables are determinant factors of water, energy and food accessibility. Ecological region, income and education are measures used in this study, which aims to examine a pairwise comparison of water and energy sources, sanitation facilities and food accessibilities in six sampling communities and tracking progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals (SDG) at a local scale using nine specific SDG indicators. A study involving questionnaire administration covering 1785 households across the three ecological regions of Katsina state was performed. Two communities representing urban and rural households from each of the ecological regions were selected. An analysis of variance was used to test the equality of resource accessibility across the investigated communities followed up by a post hoc analysis to identify significant mean groups. The results showed that the overall access level to safely manage water and sanitation facilities were 16.5% and 28.1%, respectively. Access indices of 1.83 and 1.24 for electricity and cooking fuel, respectively, were calculated in the study area. The study revealed that location, education and income are the key drivers of water, energy and food access and choice.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from the Longitudinal Parenting Across Cultures Project

2021 ◽  
pp. 89-112
Author(s):  
Jennifer E. Lansford ◽  
W. Andrew Rothenberg ◽  
Sombat Tapanya ◽  
Liliana Maria Uribe Tirado ◽  
Saengduean Yotanyamaneewong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Longitudinal Data ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Health And Well Being

This chapter uses evidence from the Parenting Across Cultures (PAC) project to illustrate ways in which longitudinal data can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.) The chapter begins by providing an overview of the research questions that have guided the international PAC as well as a description of the participants, procedures, and measures. Next, empirical findings from PAC are summarized to illustrate implications for six specific SDGs related to child and adolescent development in relation to education, poverty, gender, mental health, and well-being. Then the chapter describes how longitudinal data offer advantages over cross-sectional data in operationalizing SDG targets and implementing the SDGs. Finally, limitations, future research directions, and conclusions are provided.

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

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.

scholarly journals Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: A Review of Strategic Tools and Frameworks Available to Organisations

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarrod Grainger-Brown ◽  
Shirin Malekpour
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Problem Definition ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Generic Model ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Organisational Strategy

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a bold aspiration for a sustainable, prosperous and equitable future. There is universal agreement that the goals cannot be achieved by 2030 on a business-as-usual trajectory, and that we need new agents of change, such as business, government and civil society. An array of tools and frameworks have recently been developed to support organisations in engaging with the SDGs. However, it is not understood if these tools/frameworks can enable transformative actions. This study used a scoping methodology to review the tools available to organisations for SDG action. These tools were then analysed against a generic model of the ‘strategic management’ process, in order to determine their usefulness in impacting organisational strategy. It was found that most of the tools are only applicable to ‘mapping’ and ‘reporting’ activities, which occur after strategies have been developed and even implemented. A small number of tools were found to align with the early stages of strategic management, that is, ‘problem definition’ and ‘goal setting’. No tools were identified which substantially engaged with actual strategy development, the stage which can shape transformative change. This gap indicates how future research could address organisational strategy, to foster as-of-yet unexplored SDG action.

scholarly journals Sustainable Development Goals and the Forest Sector—a Complex Relationship

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rupert J. Baumgartner
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Forest Sector ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Core Element ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Development Goals

The United Nations adopted the Agenda 2030 with its core element, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in September 2015. In order to achieve these goals within the coming years, intense efforts are required by all political and societal actors. Although the first definitions of sustainable development referred to the forest sector, the question remains: what contribution can forestry make to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals? Therefore, the direct positive and negative effects of forestry itself on sustainability are analyzed, and it is discussed how sustainable forest management could contribute to achieving other Sustainable Development Goals in addition to SDG 15. This analysis reveals that forestry plays a dual role, i.e., forestry can achieve positive sustainability effects but can also have negative impacts. It is thus recommended to use integrated assessment approaches to analyze whether a specific forest-related policy or strategy is contributing to sustainable development. Beside quantitative integrated assessments, the use of qualitative frameworks like the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development is proposed. It is also suggested to operationalize the concept of second-order sustainability performance for the forest sector in future research.

scholarly journals Successes and Challenge in Sustainable Development Goals Localisation for Host Communities around Kruger National Park

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5341
Author(s):  
Mashudu Andra Mabibibi ◽  
Kaitano Dube ◽  
Konanani Thwala
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Host Community ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Tourism Enterprises ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

Tourism has often been blamed for its unsustainable ways for a number of years now. Consequently, there have been efforts to ensure that tourism contributes to the host communities to address some of the sustainability challenges through responsible and sustainable tourism initiatives in the recent past. With less than nine years to go before the lapse of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is a need to take stock of how tourism enterprises such as national parks are contributing to the SDGs. This study examines how Kruger National Parks (KNP) is assisting the host communities in meeting the SDG goals and targets. The study made use of 30 in-depth key informant interviews, field observations and critical document analysis. The study found that regardless of the challenges it faces as an organization in partnering with host communities for developmental purposes, Kruger National Park has assisted communities to meet at least 15 out of the 17 SDGs. These span from social to economic, environmental and cultural SDGs. Since KNP’s projects address host community needs, several challenges need to be dealt with to ensure the sustainability of these projects post COVID-19 pandemic, which has undermined many nature tourism establishments worldwide. Besides the pandemic, there is a need to manage community expectations with regard to how far it can address some of the challenges faced by communities.

scholarly journals A Vignette of Spiritual Intelligence and Transformational Leadership

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 2529-2534
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Spiritual Intelligence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Development Goals

The United Nations (UN) has identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals aimed to end poverty, hunger and inequality, act on climate change and the environment, improve access to health and education, and build strong institutions and partnerships. A style of leadership, ingrained in an altruistic and holistic approach that acknowledges the interrelationships of all beings, is a pre-requisite to achieve sustainable development. The projects undertaken by Amrita Institutions, under the guidance and leadership of its founder, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, are in tandem with the Sustainable Development Goals identified by the UN. Results of a survey conducted to unravel the observable components of Spiritual Intelligence (SI) and Transformational Leadership (TL) of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, suggest a classic blend of SI and TL. Emulation of the convergence of SI and TL is projected to be an approach for mankind to transcend the differences of race, culture, and ideology, and regard one another as entities of a single all-encompassing consciousness. This prospective is predicted to promote fulfilment, purpose and meaning to life of individuals, communities, nations, and the world at large. The preliminary study illustrating this concept needs to be explored as recommendation for a future research, encompassing qualitative and quantitative analysis, to yield a holistic view of leadership characteristics. Longitudinal studies could also be pursued to deduce their trajectories over longer periods in time.

scholarly journals Tools for Embedding and Assessing Sustainable Development Goals in Engineering Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 12154
Author(s):  
Fermín Sánchez-Carracedo ◽  
Jordi Segalas ◽  
Gorka Bueno ◽  
Pere Busquets ◽  
Joan Climent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Learning Assessment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Development Goals

This paper presents three tools developed within the framework of the project EDINSOST2-SDG, aimed at embedding and assessing the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Engineering curricula. ESD is promoted through the introduction into engineering curricula of learning outcomes related to sustainability and, specifically, to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The first tool, the “Engineering Sustainability Map”, contains ESD-related learning outcomes that any engineering student should have acquired upon completion of their studies. These learning outcomes are described according to four sustainability competencies: (1) Critical contextualization of knowledge, (2) Sustainable use of resources, (3) Participation in community processes, and (4) Application of ethical principles. The second tool, the “Sustainability Presence Map” of a degree, shows the percentage of the presence in the curriculum of each sustainability competency. The calculation of the presence of each competency is based on the effective integration of the related learning outcomes into a specific curriculum. Respective data are provided by teachers responsible for the coordination of the different subjects of the degree, collected by means of a questionnaire. The third tool presented is a questionnaire aimed at measuring the level of ESD that students perceive they have acquired through each competency. The comparison of data resulting from the Sustainability Presence Map with the data from the student questionnaire is the first step that allows the effectiveness of embedding ESD in a degree to be determined, a proper learning assessment will confirm such effectiveness. The three tools presented in this work have undergone a validation process and are currently being used in a set of engineering degrees related to the EDINSOST2-SDG project. The results of the application of these tools are part of the future research work of the authors.

scholarly journals Analyzing the Scientific Evolution of the Sustainable Development Goals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 8286
Author(s):  
Carmen Díaz-López ◽  
Cathaysa Martín-Blanco ◽  
Juan Jesús De la Torre Bayo ◽  
Benito Rubio-Rivera ◽  
Montserrat Zamorano
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The Status ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
And Performance

Development must balance social, economic, and environmental sustainability; it is for this reason that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are integrated, in fact, action in one of them will affect outcomes in others. In consequence, research on the SDGs is broad, complex, and fragmented due to the great diversity of disciplines and approaches involved, making it difficult to obtain valuable and unbiased information for future studies. As a result, a comprehensive review of contributions could provide a comprehensive critical perspective. This article applies SciMAT software to analyze the evolution of this field of research through a systematic literature review of bibliographic records on the SDGs and a review based on bibliometric analysis of 10,272 selected records. Additionally, hidden themes and their development in this field from 1990 to 2020 have been identified to produce strategic diagrams, graphs of thematic evolution and performance indicators of the research field in different periods. The results obtained show a constantly evolving scientific field, from its initial focus on the millennium goals to the gradual inclusion of the current SDGs. They provide field experts with a comprehensive overview of the status quo and predict the dynamic directions of future research, serving as a basis for the development of new strategies for the implementation of the SDGs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document