Upward convergence patterns in chosen environmental-related SDGs

Abstract

Sustainable development is a challenge facing humanity. EU countries not only strive to reach their specific objectives, but they also work collaboratively towards shared goals. There is a need to balance synergies and compromises to address these objectives effectively. When discussing countries' development and people's well-being, one often focuses on socio-economic development. However, it is crucial not to overlook the environmental repercussions and the need to care for the planet. Thus, our article pays attention to the sustainable development objectives of the “planets” group.We analysed upward convergence in the scope of the “Planet” goals, i.e. the analysis of improving the results of Member States and, at the same time, reducing the differences between them. Convergence trends were examined individually for each variable and then for all variables combined (Planet). Our article fills a research gap because, to our knowledge, analyses of the trajectories of achieving individual goals in such a context have not been analysed so far. The results of our study indicate a favourable situation in the case of six out of eight examined variables. Areas in which intensification of activities is necessary for some EU countries are an increase in energy productivity and a reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions of land use. The second stage of the study concerned the development paths of individual countries. The most challenging situation concerns the variable sdg_07_20 (final energy consumption in households per capita). In this case, as many as 12 countries belong to the weak group.