Editorial Notes

Abstract

The International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS) is a global network of academic and sustainable development experts. ISDRS will organise an annual conference to allow practitioners, researchers, academics, and students to network and share their latest research, case studies, experiences, and accomplishments within the context of sustainable development.Halfway through Agenda 2030, and amid the COVID-19 pandemic to endemic transition, people from every walk of life are experiencing changes in their lives. Governments worldwide are aligning their goals and targets to fit in the new ‘norms.’ Against this background, researchers were invited to share their work, which assesses the progress of SDGs, at the 29th ISDRS Conference from 11th to 13th July 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.The Malaysia conference took place in the mid of Agenda 2030, seven years and a half after SDGs was first launched in 2015, and seven years and a half more towards 2030. It goes without saying that the most appropriate theme for the 2023 conference was “Half-way through Agenda 2030: Assessing the 5Ps of SDGs (people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership)”. Below are the commitments made by country leaders worldwide to the 5P back in 2015: People We are determined to end poverty and hunger in all their forms and dimensions and to ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment. Planet We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations. Prosperity We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature. Peace We are determined to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. Partnership We are determined to mobilise the means required to implement this Agenda through a revitalised Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focused in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people. The Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM (or the National University of Malaysia), was proud to be the main organiser of the 29th ISDRS Conference. Other co-organizers were IDEA Centre UKM, Institute of Fuel Cell UKM, Institute of Visual Informatic UKM, Institute of the Malay World and Civilization UKM, UKM-Graduate School of Business, Hadhari Institute UKM and UKM Strategy Center.