Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals by listening to children's voices across the globe

The <scp>SDGs</scp>: A change agenda shaping the future of business and humanity at large

To Achieve a Sustainable Blue Future, Progress Assessments Must Include Interdependencies between the Sustainable Development Goals

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Requires Transdisciplinary Innovation at the Local Scale

BackgroundCities are an important driving force to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda. The SDGs provide an operational framework to consider urbanization globally, while providing local mechanisms for action and careful attention to closing the gaps in the distribution of health gains. While health and well-being are explicitly addressed in SDG 3, health is also present as a pre condition of SDG 11, that aims at inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities.Health in All Policies (HiAP) is an approach to public policy across sectors that systematically takes into account the health implications of decisions, seeks synergies, and avoids harmful health impacts in order to improve population health and health equity. HiAP is key for local decision-making processes in the context of urban policies to promote public health interventions aimed at achieving SDG targets. HiAPs relies heavily on the use of scientific evidence and evaluation tools, such as health impact assessments (HIAs). HIAs may include city-level quantitative burden of disease, health economic assessments, and citizen and other stakeholders’ involvement to inform the integration of health recommendations in urban policies.The Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)‘s Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative provides an example of a successful model of translating scientific evidence into policy and practice with regards to sustainable and healthy urban development. The experiences collected through ISGlobal’s participation implementing HIAs in several cities worldwide as a way to promote HiAP are the basis for this analysis.AimThe aim of this article is threefold: to understand the links between social determinants of health, environmental exposures, behaviour, health outcomes and urban policies within the SDGs, following a HiAP rationale; to review and analyze the key elements of a HiAP approach as an accelerator of the SDGs in the context of urban and transport planning; and to describe lessons learnt from practical implementation of HIAs in cities across Europe, Africa and Latin-America.MethodsWe create a comprehensive, urban health related SDGs conceptual framework, by linking already described urban health dimensions to existing SDGs, targets and indicators. We discuss, taking into account the necessary conditions and steps to conduct HiAP, the main barriers and opportunities within the SDGs framework. We conclude by reviewing HIAs in a number of cities worldwide (based on the experiences collected by co-authors of this publication), including city-level quantitative burden of disease and health economic assessments, as practical tools to inform the integration of health recommendations in urban policies.ResultsA conceptual framework linking SDGs and urban and transportplanning, environmental exposures, behaviour and health outcomes, following a HiAP rationale, is designed. We found at least 38 SDG targets relevant to urban health, corresponding to 15 SDGs, while 4 important aspects contained in our proposed framework were not present in the SDGs (physical activity, noise, quality of life or social capital). Thus, a more comprehensive HiAP vision within the SDGs could be beneficial.Our analysis confirmed that the SDGs framework provides an opportunity to formulate and implement policies with a HiAP approach. Three important aspects are highlighted: 1) the importance of the intersectoral work and health equity as a cross-cutting issue in sustainable development endeavors; 2) policy coherence, health governance, and stakeholders’ participation as key issues; and 3) the need for high quality data.HIAs are a practical tool to implement HiAP. Opportunities and barriers related to the political, legal and health governance context, the capacity to inform policies in other sectors, the involvement of different stakeholders, and the availability of quality data are discussed based on our experience. Quantitative assessments can provide powerful data such as: estimates of annual preventable morbidity and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) under compliance with international exposure recommendations for physical activity, exposure to air pollution, noise, heat, and access to green spaces; the associated economic impacts in health care costs per year; and the number of preventable premature deaths when improvements in urban and transport planning are implemented. This information has been used to support the design of policies that promote cycling, walking, public, zero and low-emitting modes of transport, and the provision of urban greening or healthy public open spaces in Barcelona (e.g. Urban Mobility, Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Plans, or the Superblocks’s model), the Bus Rapid Transit and Open Streets initiatives in several Latin American cities or targeted SDGs assessments in Morocco.ConclusionsBy applying tools such as HIA, HiAP can be implemented to inform and improve transport and urban planning to achieve the 2030 SDG Agenda. Such a framework could be potentially used in cities worldwide, including those of less developed regions or countries. Data availability, taking into account equity issues, strenghtening the communication between experts, decision makers and citizens, and the involvement of all major stakeholders are crucial elements for the HiAP approach to translate knowledge into SDG implementation.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health system & Sustainable Development Goal 3.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will require coordinated policymaking for achievement. Aruba is a Small Island State (SIDS) with 90% of its jobs and GDP dependent on the oceans has prioritized SDG 14 – life below water, or the SDG Ocean goal – for achievement. We have developed a planning process, building off of the the literature on SDG interactions and stratetic policy planning literatures, to guide SDG policy development and implemented it in Aruba. We used a structured expert elicitation process to carry out the analysis for this process. The process involves first identifying priority areas based on determining which SDG Ocean target provides the most co-benefit across other SDGs. Next we determine the SDG areas that most contribute to key SDG Ocean targets. Using this information we determine the key policy areas important for promoting sustainable oceans. Finally, we determine the Aruban ministries and institutions responsible for the various SDG areas and based on which SDG areas are most important for SDG Ocean achievement we visualize a new institutional network to support the achievement of SDG Oceans. First, we determined that while increasing economic benfits for SIDS (SDG 14.7) was the most important SDG Ocean target when considering direct impacts, reducing marine pollution (SDG 14.1), restoring marine habitats (SDG 14.2), and marine protection (SDG 14.5) were the most important SDG Ocean targets when considering indirect impacts. SDG areas with the most beneficial consequences for the SDG Ocean targets were mitigating climate impacts (SDG 13), international partnerships (SDG 17), jobs and economy (SDG 8), conserving terrestrial area (SDG 15), strengthening institutions (SDG 16), and promoting sustainable consumption and production practices (SDG 12). When links between SDGs are not considered, the institutional network supporting sustainable oceans is relatively simple, with the Department of Nature and the Environment most central: it coordinates across the largest number of relevant institutions supporting the SDG Oceans goal. However, when SDG relationships are considered, the institutional network is relatively complex, and the Social and Economic Council is determined to be the most central and important in coordinating activities across the largest number of Aruban instutions that support the SDG Ocean goal. Transitioning to a sustainable future requires policymaking that works across social-ecological dimensions, and need to design coherent and integrative institutional structures with which to do this.

Malaysians’ perception on the contribution of urban green spaces to the UN sustainable development goals

Education is the means to take the sustainable development goals forward. Sustainable future cannot be built with out the strong foundation of education. With the challenges and concerns grappling across the globe, engineers have a big role to play, especially with regard to the implementation and attainment of sustainable development goals. This study attempts to measure the knowledge level of engineering students regarding sustainability and UN Sustainable development goals. This study also aims to measure the understanding and perception of students understanding towards importance of SDG in their every day life. As our country has a population that is mostly from rural backgrounds, the study also attempted to analyze if there is difference between rural and urban students’ level of understanding on sustainable development goals. Finally, the paper attempts to measure student’s willingness to learn sustainability concepts as a part of their curriculum. The study followed a descriptive research method. Data for the study was collected from 250 engineering students from west Tamilnadu comprising of 7 states. This region also is the hub for engineering education in the state. The survey was developed based on a thorough literature survey and standardized instruments were identified and administered through online mode. The result of the study indicates that the knowledge levels on SDG is low among the students. The understanding and importance of goals to the everyday life was found to be significant. The study also revealed that rural and urban students differ in 5 SDG’s that pertain to their functioning. The results also indicate that majority of the students were willing to be involved in the SDG implementation and interested in having them in their curriculum. Keywords — Knowledge on Sustainability, Understanding of Sustainable Development Goals, Importance, Inclusion of SDG in Engineering Curriculum

How much is global business sectors contributing to sustainable development goals?

A conceptual framework for understanding the contribution of building materials in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Women are the key to sustainable development

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global development agenda designed to address economic, social, environmental, legal, and governance challenges. Tourism, including the hospitality industry, is a key sector highlighted within the SDGs framework. This study aims to examine the role of five-star hotels in Bali in advancing the SDGs, particularly focusing on the social development pillar. Using a descriptive qualitative method, the findings reveal that both five-star hotels in this study have implemented several relevant indicators of the SDGs' social pillar. Hotel A supports SDG 1 (No Poverty) through local employment and social security programs; SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by distributing food packages to employees and their families; SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through employee welfare programs; SDG 4 (Quality Education) via career development; and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by promoting women in management roles. Meanwhile, Hotel B emphasizes SDG 1 through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, SDG 3 by providing health insurance, SDG 4 through staff training, and SDG 5 by fostering an inclusive work environment. These findings demonstrate that the hospitality sector can contribute significantly to the SDGs in Indonesia, particularly in Bali as a major tourist destination. The measures taken by these hotels can serve as a model for sustainable social development practices within the hospitality industry.

The United Nations’ Agenda 2030 provides a framework of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve peace and prosperity for people and planet, now and into the future(1). The United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition emphasises that food and nutrition are key levers for optimising both human and planetary health and that individuals working in food, nutrition and health play an essential role in contributing to the SDGs(2,3). This project aimed to (i) map the work being done by staff and higher degree students at Monash University’s Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food and its alignment with the SDGs, and (ii) assess the impact of this process on workforce capacity to embed the SDGs in future work activities. Three mapping workshops; one pilot, one in-person and one online, were conducted (n = 28), beginning with a short expert-led seminar about the SDGs before participants engaged in an interactive activity to record their work activities (research, education or engagement) relating to the SDGs. Mapping data were analysed to determine which SDGs were being prioritised and in what type of activities. To determine the impact on workforce capacity, participants completed pre- and post-workshop surveys that assessed their knowledge of and confidence regarding the SDGs. From the three workshops, 129 work activities were described, each linked to one or more of the SDGs. Of those, 41% were education, 36% were research, and 23% were engagement activities. Work activities spanned all 17 of the SDGs, with the most commonly aligned being Goal 3 Good Health and Wellbeing (53% of work activities), Goal 10 Reduced Inequalities (37% of work activities), Goal 4 Quality Education (36% of work activities), Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production (34% of work activities), and Goal 17 Partnerships for the Goals (27% of work activities). The pre- and post-workshop surveys indicated increased staff knowledge and confidence related to the SDGs. The percentage of participants that could correctly identify the number of SDGs increased from 43% to 96%, and the percentage of participants that recognised the correct aim of the SDGs increased from 43% to 86%. Regarding confidence in talking about the SDGs, the percentage of staff who indicated that they ‘avoid talking about them’ or are ‘not confident’ decreased from 39% to 4%, and the number of staff who were confident talking about the SDGs ‘in general terms’ increased from 39% to 75%. Nutrition professionals are well-placed to support progress towards each of the SDGs. Workshops such as these provide an opportunity to increase workforce capacity to discuss, share and relate their work to the SDGs and provide a periodic pulse-check to identify opportunities for greater contribution to this urgent, global Agenda.

The review explores the intricate relationship between agricultural practices, climate change, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on SDG 2: Zero Hunger. It highlights the profound impact of climatic variations on crop yields, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and the proliferation of pests and diseases, all contributing to reduced agricultural productivity. This poses significant challenges to achieving the SDGs of eradicating hunger and poverty. Smallholder farmers have adopted various adaptive measures, such as adjusting farming operations, on-farm diversification, and improved soil-water management. However, industrial agriculture, while successful in increasing calorie production, has led to biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions, thus failing to eliminate hunger and leading to widespread micronutrient deficiencies. Approximately 815 million people are currently undernourished, with two billion suffering from micronutrient deficiencies. The paper emphasizes the necessity for sustainable agricultural practices that enhance productivity while protecting ecosystems. Key strategies include improving irrigation, adopting integrated weed management, using precision agriculture, and reducing post-harvest losses. The review underscores the importance of policy interventions and innovative technologies in addressing the global food security challenge. Effective food security strategies must incorporate sustainable production practices, leverage genetic diversity, and ensure economic and physical access to nutritious food. Addressing food security within the framework of SDGs requires a holistic approach that integrates environmental sustainability, economic development, and social inclusion. Collaborative efforts between governments, scientists, and local communities are vital to achieving a sustainable and food-secure future.

PurposeThe architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector and businesses in the sector are increasingly recognising the need to align business strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Research has shown that integrating business strategies with SDGs can offer significant advantages to companies, such as improved competitiveness and access to untapped markets. This study examines how the AEC sector in the UAE responds to the SDGs and aligns business strategies with the SDGs. The paper also presents a conceptual framework for aligning business strategies with the SDGs.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a mixed-method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative data was gathered through a survey of 116 sustainability professionals working in the UAE’s AEC sector and analysed through descriptive and inferential analyses. The qualitative method involved a content analysis of the business strategies of selected companies in the sector.FindingsThe results show that activities of the AEC sector can impact the achievement of the SDGs, including SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 11(Sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 13 (Climate action), demonstrating the sector’s importance towards realising the SDGs. Also, stakeholder engagement, transparent communication of sustainability performance and investment in research and development of sustainable ways of operation are significant ways of aligning business strategies with the SDGs. The cases examined indicate that companies within the UAE’s AEC sector actively align their business strategies with the SDGs. This alignment often involves incorporating goals related to environmental sustainability, gender equality and responsible consumption into core business operations.Practical implicationsThis research advances discussions on sustainability in the literature by providing theoretical insights on how to synergise business strategies with the SDGs in the AEC sector. Practically, the framework developed from the study offers guidance to businesses in the AEC sector of the UAE on how to align operations with global sustainability standards. Policymakers, investors and customers are also guided on how to assess the commitment of businesses to sustainability.Originality/valueThe AEC industry could be used as a catalyst for unlocking the opportunities that the business community can harness towards a sustainable future for the UAE. The novelty of this paper lies in the valuable insights it provides to AEC sector businesses on how to align business strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals to advance sustainability in the UAE.