Alternatives to solve SDG trade-offs and to enforce SDG synergies: a systematic literature review

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

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

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

(1) Background: contents and strategies related to sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being introduced in academic curricula, and the organization of the university environment is evolving to adopt sustainable practices. One of the main aims of this evolution is to raise students’ awareness of sustainability and to encourage them to develop attitudes, knowledge and competencies for acting as future responsible citizens. This implies the need to examine and understand students’ attitudes and beliefs towards sustainability. (2) Method: a systematic literature review has been performed to examine the most recent studies focused on university students’ beliefs and attitudes towards sustainable development. Three educational online databases were searched for identified research papers, and in the end, 20 papers have been included in the analysis. (3) Results: in recent years there has been a growing interest in the topic of university students’ assessment of sustainability beliefs and attitudes. Assessment was frequently limited to the environmental dimension of sustainability, placing the economic, social and educational dimensions in the background. Most of the assessing tools have been developed as quantitative questionnaires. (4) Conclusions: understanding the attitudes and perceptions of university students about sustainability issues is an essential task for helping higher education institutions to effectively infuse the contents and principles of sustainable development into their environments.

The sharing economy is an umbrella term for different business models that seem to have a positive impact on sustainability. To achieve sustainable development, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an instrument and guide for countries and individuals. This paper sheds light on the relationships between the sharing economy, sustainability and SDGs through the content analysis of 74 papers from the database Web of Science that consider these factors through the topics of the environment, consumer values, business characteristics and urban impact regarding sectors such as mobility and accommodation. Results express that the sharing economy helps to achieve all SDGs. However, further research is needed because of the novelty of the topic and the existence of many gaps. The sharing economy has a positive effect on the dimensions of sustainability from the economic, social and environmental points of view.

This paper investigates how and whether circular economy (CE) business models affect the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the waste management sector. A case study is used to determine the relationship between CE business models and SDGs. It shows that CE business models, potentially, can contribute directly to achieving a significant number of SDGs. The strongest relationships are between the CE business model and the targets of SDG4 (Quality education); SDG 5 (Gender equality); SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent working and economic growth); SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production). After a narrative literature review on the intersection between CE and SDGs, the paper performed a case study on Contarina SpA, a firm that developed a business model to recycle wastes into recyclable materials under a CE approach. The case findings could stimulate further research into how this and similar types of business models will help societies to change from the ‘use‐it‐once‐and‐throw‐it away’ mentality of linear business models to the integrated, holistic, CE model that seeks to emulate nature's cyclical systems, and achieve the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

This paper examines the complex relationship between macroeconomic policies, international trade practices, and sustainable development within the context of Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG12) - promoting sustainable consumption and production. The objective is to explore a path towards sustainable economic growth that balances economic progress and ecological sustainability. A comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities in aligning macroeconomic and trade policies with SDG12 is conducted, complemented by a meticulous review of literature, academic discourse, empirical evidence, and case studies from different countries. The methodology entails a systematic review of relevant literature, theoretical foundations, and empirical validations, including insightful case studies illustrating successful strategies employed by nations. Practical results demonstrate the potential for successful reconciliation between economic growth and environmental sustainability, offering replicable blueprints for other countries. The paper identifies areas of conflict and symbiosis between macroeconomic and trade policies concerning SDG12. In conclusion, achieving sustainable economic growth requires cohesive policy formulation, aligning macroeconomic and trade strategies with SDG12. The study proposes specific, implementable policy recommendations to guide countries towards a sustainable trajectory of economic growth while preserving the environment. Emphasizing the significance of coherent policy frameworks, the paper highlights the potential for building a robust, sustainable global economy that addresses growth and environmental conservation simultaneously, contributing to the promotion of sustainable consumption and production worldwide.

This paper examines the complex relationship between macroeconomic policies, international trade practices, and sustainable development within the context of Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG12) - promoting sustainable consumption and production. The objective is to explore a path towards sustainable economic growth that balances economic progress and ecological sustainability. A comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities in aligning macroeconomic and trade policies with SDG12 is conducted, complemented by a meticulous review of literature, academic discourse, empirical evidence, and case studies from different countries. The methodology entails a systematic review of relevant literature, theoretical foundations, and empirical validations, including insightful case studies illustrating successful strategies employed by nations. Practical results demonstrate the potential for successful reconciliation between economic growth and environmental sustainability, offering replicable blueprints for other countries. The paper identifies areas of conflict and symbiosis between macroeconomic and trade policies concerning SDG12. In conclusion, achieving sustainable economic growth requires cohesive policy formulation, aligning macroeconomic and trade strategies with SDG12. The study proposes specific, implementable policy recommendations to guide countries towards a sustainable trajectory of economic growth while preserving the environment. Emphasizing the significance of coherent policy frameworks, the paper highlights the potential for building a robust, sustainable global economy that addresses growth and environmental conservation simultaneously, contributing to the promotion of sustainable consumption and production worldwide.

193 United Nations members are signatories of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Even though it does not make it legally binding to the country members, the SDGs establishment incites national and managerial frameworks to achieve the SDGs. The mining industry inserts itself in this context by its global presence and frequent location within ecologically sensitive and less developed areas. This paper aims to consolidate the state of academic research on mining, sustainability and sustainable development, by organizing the results of previous studies within a systematic review on the SDGs set. To do so, the ISI Web of Science TM Core Collection database was chosen as a database of record, as it is one of the most widespread databases of academic journals. We have used all years available in the ISI database, from 1945 to 2016 (for complete years). The systematic review process comprised of five steps: (i) to search terms [(“sustainability” or “sustainable development”) and mining] on the database and to apply filters of criteria; (ii) organizing papers; (iii) metrics and relations between papers and authors; (iv) classification of the results through content analysis techniques; and (v) synthesis. The results were divided in two groups: the highly cited and the most recent papers, to include papers that have academic impact and those which show the newest contributions to the field. The results showed that, in spite of a growing amount of publications in the past years that relates to mining and sustainability, the main focus of these publications are still on the environmental dimensions of the UN goals. This suggests that more practical and academic work in the mining sector are required to fill in the blank spaces regarding the other set of goals that compose the SDGs framework.

Rwanda’s Off-Grid Solar Performance Targets

ABSTRACTIn the era of rapid technological advancement and growing global challenges, the interaction between sustainability, digital technology (DT), and sustainable development goals (SDGs) presents a vital opportunity for transformative action. This convergence opens doors to innovative solutions for addressing critical environmental and societal issues while advancing economic progress. Therefore, this study aims to explore the intricate relationship between sustainability, digital technology, and SDGs. A systematic literature review and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) protocol have been used to comprehend the impact of DT on promoting SDGs across diverse sectors while enhancing sustainability. By analyzing the 141 articles, it could be concluded that achieving sustainability by adhering to the SDGs requires effective integration of DT and a thorough understanding of the policy reforms and SDG knowledge that support both sustainability goals and digitalization. The findings also indicate that achieving the SDGs in the era of digitalization relies on the collective and collaborative ability to leverage digital technology as a crucial tool and resource for positive transformation while mitigating its adverse impacts. Furthermore, the successful integration of DT with SDGs requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses technological innovation, a supportive governance framework, and capacity building.

Artificial intelligence and business models in the sustainable development goals perspective: A systematic literature review

This work investigates the incorporation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into business models (BM) associated to Building Environment (BEs) in order to promote sustainable development, innovation, and resilient infrastructure. Through an analysis of business models released from 2016 to 2019, we explore the integration of important Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as affordable, green energy (SDG 7), sustainable growth (SDG 8), industrialization and innovation (SDG 9), and resilient cities (SDG 11) into the operational and strategic frameworks of various business designs. Evidence from case studies conducted in different nations demonstrates how business models may be modified to include sustainable practices and frameworks motivated by values. Furthermore, this text presents guidelines for integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into upcoming Blue Models (BMs), emphasizing their significance in circular economies, green energy projects, and socially inclusive urban development. This paper provides important information to the stakeholders in the constructed environment as the legislators, developers, and academics who would wish to align their business agendas with the global sustainability goals. The research evidence suggests that business models associated with the SDGs allow for the management of modern sustainability challenges together with encouraging innovation and economic growth.

The circular economy (CE) and bioeconomy (BE) are recognized as potential solutions for achieving sustainable development, yet little research has examined their potential contribution to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this study, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of 649 articles published between 2007 and 2022, as well as a systematic literature review of 81 articles, to assess the extent to which the CE and BE communities have addressed the SDGs. Our analysis identified 10 research gaps including the limited number of empirical quantitative papers, particularly in the context of BE, and the underrepresentation of developing regions such as Latin America and Africa in the literature. Our main finding reveals that the CE community primarily focuses on SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, followed by SDG 9, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy; and SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation. The BE community, on the other hand, focuses primarily on SDG 7, followed by SDG 9 and SDG 12. However, both communities lack attention to social SDGs such as quality education, poverty, and gender equality. We propose that a combination of CE and BE, known as circular bioeconomy, could help countries achieve all SDGs. Further research is needed to develop and implement circular bioeconomy policies that address these gaps and promote sustainable development. In this sense, our study identified an important research gap that needs more attention in the future.

This study investigated the impact of the people category of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on sustainable and conventional economic growth in Asia and the Pacific region, using a sample of 52 selected countries between 2000 and 2023. Employing two distinct models, model A1 for conventional economic growth and model A2 for sustainable economic growth, we explained the relationships between five SDG indicators: employed poverty rate, stunted children, expenditure on health, expenditure of education, and % of women MNAs on economic growth. This study employed a fixed-effect model and random-effect model to investigate the impact of the people category SDGs on traditional and sustainable economic growth. The comparative analysis of each SDG in both models revealed valuable insights. SDG 1, “employed poverty rate”, has a positive impact on economic growth in both models, while SDG 2, “percentage of stunted child”, did not significantly influence economic growth in either model. Moreover, SDG 3 and SDG 4, relating to “government’s health expenditure per capita” and “government’s Education education expenditure per capita”, respectively, exhibited a positive impact on traditional and sustainable economic growth. Conversely, SDG 5, “percentage of women members of national parliament”, displayed an insignificant impact on traditional and sustainable economic growth models. In conclusion, this study suggests that policymakers should prioritize targeted interventions to alleviate employed poverty, enhance healthcare, and boost education spending. Moreover, promoting women’s representation in national parliaments should be approached with context-specific strategies to maximize its impact on economic growth.