Analysing associations between digitalization and the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

Sustainability is a very complex concept made up of a multitude of interacting aspects that do not necessarily work synergistically with each other. The consequential outcome of cross-cutting drivers, such as digitalisation, is often difficult to assess, as the achievement of certain targets may also inadvertently hinder progress towards others. This investigation describes a comprehensive and systematic country-based analysis of statistical associations between digitalization and sustainability indicators operating at three different levels (i.e., index, goal and indicators). Results showed strong correlations between the composite indices for digitalization (IDI Development Index), sustainability (SDG Index from) and economic growth (GCI and GDP). However, the analysis of lower-level indicators provides a more ambiguous picture, with 2 of the sustainability goals and 22 % of the sustainability indicators included in the SDG Index showing negative associations with digitalisation. It appears that while synergies are generated in aspects related to economic and social sustainability, trade-offs occur in areas related to environmental protection such as climate change, depletion of natural resources and waste generation due to their negative associations with existing economic development models. These structural obstacles need to be acknowledged and adequately managed in order to ensuring harmonious and integral progress towards effective sustainability.