Sustainable Development Goals Indicators Research Articles

Study on the substitutability of nighttime light data for SDG indicators: a case study of Yunnan Province

Introdution: One crucial method to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) involves timely adjustment of development policies, promoting the realization of SDGs through a time-series assessment of the degree of accomplishment. In practical applications, data acquisition is a significant constraint in evaluating the SDGs, not only in China but across the globe. Hence, expanding data channels and exploring the feasibility of various data sources for sustainable development assessment are effective strategies to tackle the challenge of data acquisition.Methods: In light of this issue, this study selected Nighttime Light Data, a remote sensing data source closely linked to human social activities, as an alternative data source. Using Yunnan Province as an example, 16 localized indicators of social, economic, and environmental types were chosen. These indicators were then subjected to a correlation analysis with the Total Nighttime Light Index (TNLI). The relationships between different types of indicators and TNLI were analyzed at both temporal and spatial scales, thus identifying the indicators for which TNLI could serve as a suitable substitute measure.Results: The study indicates that when the SDG indicators are classified into economic, social and environmental categories, the total value of nighttime light presents a significant correlation and substitutability with economic indicators; significantly correlated with some social indicators, it can reveal the weak links in the development of underdeveloped areas; it is not significantly correlated with environmental indicators, while a trend correlation exists, which can provide some reference values.Discussion: This study has demonstrated the feasibility of using Nighttime Light Data for sustainable development assessment. It provides a novel evaluation method for countries that, despite a lack of resources for conducting sustainable development assessments, have a greater need for such assessments due to their lower economic development. Furthermore, a multitude of assessment methods can be developed based on Nighttime Light Data.

Transboundary water cooperation under SDG indicator 6.5.2: disaggregating data to provide additional insights at the aquifer level

Abstract The acceleration of transboundary water cooperation is essential to support water security and ensure mutual benefits of sustainable development. The way existing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) monitoring data is used to raise its importance further up political agendas and inform future reporting rounds is therefore crucial to acceleration. Using data extracted from national country reports of SDG indicator 6.5.2 on transboundary water cooperation, we showcase the level of cooperation, as reported, per aquifer to compliment the national approach currently followed by the official SDG framework. Our analysis uncovers a variety of insights and challenges to transboundary aquifer (TBA) cooperation that otherwise might be difficult to visualize through official national reports. Reported aquifer cooperation is often not harmonized across international borders. A lack of groundwater data and information is a major contributing factor to uncoordinated reporting, highlighting the importance of a sound scientific baseline. However, harmonization issues are also interlinked to a national-focused reporting process where Member States have the right to disagree over the status of their joint cooperation. These results can assist in improving future indicator coverage, both as an awareness raising tool for co-custodian agencies and by countries through direct interventions and coordination with neighbours.

Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria Bloodstream Infections in Peru and Associated Outcomes: VIRAPERU Study.

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among gram-negative bacteria (GNB) is of critical importance, but data for Peru are not available. To fill this gap, a non-interventional hospital-based surveillance study was conducted in 15 hospitals across Peru from July 2017 to October 2019. Consecutive unique blood culture isolates of key GNB (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp.) recovered from hospitalized patients were collected for centralized antimicrobial susceptibility testing, along with linked epidemiological and clinical data. A total of 449 isolates were included in the analysis. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs) was present in 266 (59.2%) GNB isolates. Among E. coli (n = 199), 68.3% showed 3GC resistance (i.e., above the median ratio for low- and middle-income countries in 2020 for this sustainable development goal indicator). Carbapenem resistance was present in 74 (16.5%) GNB isolates, with wide variation among species (0% in E. coli, 11.0% in K. pneumoniae, 37.0% in P. aeruginosa, and 60.8% in Acinetobacter spp. isolates). Co-resistance to carbapenems and colistin was found in seven (1.6%) GNB isolates. Empiric treatment covered the causative GNB in 63.3% of 215 cases. The in-hospital case fatality ratio was 33.3% (92/276). Pseudomonas aeruginosa species and carbapenem resistance were associated with higher risk of in-hospital death. In conclusion, an important proportion of bloodstream infections in Peru are caused by highly resistant GNB and are associated with high in-hospital mortality.

Evaluation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicators in Wantilan, Subang Regency, 2021

Sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a global agenda as the successor of the millennium development goals (SDGs) with a broader, holistic, and universal vision. The SDGs contain 17 goals, 169 targets, and 289 indicators which are used as a reference for local governments in developing their territories. In measuring success at the rural level, a categorization is used in the form of the Indeks Desa Membangun (IDM), which is formed based on three indices, namely, the social resilience index, the economic resilience index, and the ecological or environmental index. Wantilan is one of the villages with IDM status as a developed village located in Subang Regency. The status of the IDM needs to be upgraded to become an independent village by taking into account local government policies that are also related to the SDGs indicators. In addition, the condition of Wantilan Village which experienced a transition from being an agricultural area to an industrial area requires an evaluation of the achievement of the SDGs indicators. There are 4 areas of discussion related to SDGs available on the Wantilan Village Dashboard, including employment and education. The results of this study indicate that the achievement of certain SDGs indicators, especially in the fields of education and employment, has not met the expected targets.
 Keywords: achievement, IDM, rural, SDGs, Wantilan

Assessing Sustainable Development Goals Implementation in Pasuruan’s Great Disability House

Sustainable development is a form of achieving social justice for every generation that aims to support economic growth based on social and environmental development. Pasuruan City as one of the cities in Pasuruan Regency which forms a sustainable development program by presenting Great Disability House which was established to facilitate persons with disabilities in Pasuruan City to receive various skills training. The purpose of this study was to determine the goals of sustainable development at Great Disability Home based on OJK (Authority Service Finance) sustainable indicators, and the role of Great Disability House in the sustainable development of Pasuruan City. To conduct research related to these objectives, researchers used a mix-method approach, namely a quantitative method on the results of direct interviews with Great Disability House in Pasuruan City, and a qualitative method with an indicators of sustainable development goals in Indonesia study approach. The results of the study show that indicators of sustainable development can be identified as follows: (1) ecologically sustainable, through creating salable products through recycling both organic and inorganic waste; (2) economic sustainability, through good product marketing through an online sales platform where the output is able to prosper the members of Great Disability House; (3) socio cultural sustainability, through handmade craft products that reflect the local culture of Pasuruan City (4) sustainable politics, defense and security, through the creation of various types of products that do not oppose elements of SARA (Ethnicity, Religion, Race, and Inter-group), elements of political campaign means and elements of plagiarism.

8.F. Workshop: SDG indicators: country scenarios and the way towards 2030

Abstract Background The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a global action plan aimed at achieving a better future for all. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the core of this Agenda, balancing the economic, social and ecological dimensions of sustainable development. The 17 SDGs were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a blueprint for reducing inequalities, eliminating extreme poverty, rehabilitating the natural environment, ensuring access to justice for all, improving health and well-being, and building global partnerships supporting sustainable development. From the beginning, data availability was widely discussed. Previous have covered the issue of SDG data gaps; we will concentrate on SDG 3, Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, though there are health-related indicators under other SDGs, e.g. 2.2.2 and 5.2.2. Developing SDG Indicators The UN General Assembly adopted the global indicator framework in 2017 with a set of 231 indicators, published in the UN SDG Reports, where countries are grouped according to geography. From the perspective of Europe, this makes sense, as i.e. neglected tropical diseases and births not attended by health personnel are uncommon. Indicators demonstrating social inequalities in health, or risk factors for non-communicable disease, such as insufficient physical activity and low fruit and vegetable consumption, are more relevant and demonstrate persistent threats to population health. In accordance with the UN's original mandate, some countries are therefore developing new local indicators. Addressing data gaps In the WHO European Region, the biggest challenge regarding SDG data is time lag. 6 of the 53 Member States (MS) in this region report mortality data from 2017 or earlier, and 39 MS have at least one year of missing mortality data, making it difficult to monitor demographic trends. Until MS are able to report timely and complete data, SDG reporting is unlikely to get better. Often flaws in the underlying health information systems (HISs) are the causes of the gaps. Major barriers to the optimal functioning of HISs are fragmentation of data sources, limited accessibility and unclear rules around use and reuse of data; barriers in the implementation of electronic health records; governance issues related to unclear responsibilities, including funding gaps and weak collaboration; legal gaps and misinterpretation of laws surrounding data protection, and limited number of skilled staff for implementation. These three abstracts show very different scenarios from three countries that illustrates how diverse the European Region is and how differently the countries work towards the SDGs, demonstrating what is currently happening in Europe regarding defining, collecting and reporting SDG indicators. Finally, WHO along with MS will offer some ideas for the best ways to optimize the years until the 2030 SDG achievement deadline. Key messages • Examples from three countries demonstrate challenges connected to SDG monitoring, including data gaps and reporting issues. • Flaws in HISs can lead to data gaps; WHO proposes some ways to alleviate this.

Strong Negative Association between Cesarean Delivery and Early Initiation of Breastfeeding Practices among Vietnamese Mothers-A Secondary Analysis of the Viet Nam Sustainable Development Goal Indicators on Children and Women Survey.

Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) involves feeding a newborn with the mother's breast milk within the first hour of delivery. The prevalence of EIBF in Vietnam has recently shown a downward trend. The present study aimed to demonstrate the current prevalence of EIBF practices and identify factors associated with EIBF among Vietnamese mothers with children under 24 months of age. This study was a secondary analysis of data from the Viet Nam Sustainable Development Goal Indicators on Children and Women (SDGCW) survey 2020-2021. The study participants included 1495 mothers extracted from the SDGCW dataset. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed. The prevalence of EIBF practice was 25.5% among all mothers, 31.9% among vaginal-delivery mothers groups, and 9.0% among cesarean-section mothers groups. Factors negatively associated with EIBF were younger age (0.18 times), cesarean delivery (0.25 times), and absence of skin-to-skin contact with newborns immediately after birth (0.43 times). The prevalence of EIBF among Vietnamese mothers was found to be substantially low, especially among those who underwent cesarean delivery. EIBF should be promoted among younger mothers and those who underwent cesarean delivery.

Sustainable Development Goals and bank profitability: International evidence

This article explores the impact of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on bank profitability. The study considers multiple indicators of Sustainable Development Goals and bank profitability across 28 countries. The findings demonstrate that achieving specific Sustainable Development Goals leads to a significant improvement in bank profitability. More specifically, achieving good health and well-being leads to an increase in bank non-interest income. Providing clean water and sanitation for all also increases bank return on assets. On the other hand, taking strong action to combat climate change results in decreased bank return on assets. Additionally, attaining quality education and promoting affordable and clean energy sources lead to an increase in bank return on equity. The regional findings indicate that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has varying impacts on bank profitability measures across banks in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The SDG relevance-presence map of Hungarian SMEs - The relationship between the SDGs and the three pillar model

Hungary is currently in the early stage of its sustainable development endeavours, with notable strides being made since 2022. The study explores the attitudes of the Hungarian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs). To achieve this, a two-fold methodology is employed. Firstly, the study utilizes the literature research and the Eurostat database to assess the country's SDG indicators. Secondly, an SME questionnaire is designed to gather relevant information regarding the connected organizational attitudes. To visually illustrate the relevance and the presence of SDGs within Hungarian SMEs, an SDG relevance-presence map is developed, to serve as a crucial milestone for formulating strategies centred around sustainable development in this sector. Based on the results, the SDGs in the operation of SMEs are classified into three groups, which categorization can be clearly connected to the three-pillar model. The research not only elucidates the primary associations, but also provides valuable insights to both policy makers and the Hungarian government. Furthermore, these insights shed light on the elements within which concentrated efforts could yield the greatest improvements for the country. Despite the fact that our research was centred on Hungary, the study underscores the broader applicability of our findings.

Warding off freshwater salinization: Do current criteria measure up?

AbstractSalinization is a global threat to freshwater habitats that has been intensified by climate change. Monitoring, assessment and management of salinity is therefore essential. The first step is to set criteria that are sufficiently stringent to protect ecosystem health. However, many countries have not yet defined criteria, and there are substantial differences between criteria. This has been noted in the EU, where salinity is a required “supporting element” for ecological status in inland waters but also for implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 6.3.2. for “good ambient water quality” where different approaches and widely different threshold values were reported for salinity criteria. Much of this information has not been published and is difficult to access, hindering further efforts to address the problem. We first discuss the implications of salinization for freshwater ecological health. We go on to discuss the principles and guidelines on how salinity criteria to protect ecology should be established. Next, we review salinity criteria submitted as part of implementation of SDG indicator 6.3.2 and the EU Water Framework Directive. Finally, we discuss setting salinity thresholds in an already‐warming world and the challenges facing anyone trying to develop salinity criteria to protect freshwater ecosystems.This article is categorized under: Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness Science of Water > Water Quality

Temporal Characteristics and Sources of PM2.5 in Porto Velho of Amazon Region in Brazil from 2020 to 2022

Our study analyzed PM2.5 concentrations in Porto Velho, Rondônia, during the April 2020 and October 2022 wildfire seasons. This study aimed to evaluate the temporal characteristics of PM2.5 and the influence of long-distance pollution sources. Using PurpleAir data, we found that the average PM2.5 concentration was 17.7 ± 24.0 µg m−3, with significant spikes in August. PM2.5 concentrations decreased during the day but rose from nighttime to morning. The PM2.5 concentration was observed to be distributed at a high level of 36.3 ± 31.1 µg m−3 in slow westerly winds. Moreover, even in the dominant northerly wind conditions, a similarly high concentration of PM2.5 was detected, measuring at 33.2 ± 28.3 µg m−3. Air masses mainly originated from northeastern, southeastern, and southern regions, passing through Paraguay and Bolivia. Furthermore, PM2.5 in Porto Velho was influenced by Brazil’s northern and Central-West areas. To meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 11.6.2 for clean air, it is recommended that wildfires in Porto Velho’s northern and western regions be reduced, and more robust deforestation policies are needed in areas with long-distance pollution sources.

The contributions of citizen science to SDG monitoring and reporting on marine plastics

The accumulation of plastic litter in marine environments is a major environmental challenge along with the difficulties in their measurement because of the massive size of the oceans and vast circulation of plastic litter, which is being addressed as part of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Citizen science, public participation in scientific research and knowledge production, represents a potential source of data for SDG monitoring and reporting of marine plastic litter, yet there has been no evidence of its use to date. Here, we show how Ghana has become the first country to integrate existing citizen science data on marine plastic litter in their official monitoring and reporting of SDG indicator 14.1.1b for the years 2016–2020, which has also helped to bridge local data collection efforts with global monitoring processes and policy agendas by leveraging the SDG framework. The results have been used in Ghana’s 2022 Voluntary National Review of the SDGs, and reported on the UN SDG Global Database, as well as helping to inform relevant policies in Ghana. In addition, here, we present a pathway that can be adopted by the relevant government authorities in other countries that have an interest in following a similar citizen science data validation and reporting process for this indicator and potentially others.

Land degradation neutrality: Testing the indicator in a temperate agricultural landscape

Land degradation directly affects around 25% of land globally, undermining progress on most of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly target 15.3. To assess land degradation, SDG indicator 15.3.1 combines sub-indicators of productivity, soil carbon and land cover. Over 100 countries have set Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets. Here, we demonstrate application of the indicator for a well-established agricultural landscape using the case study of Great Britain. We explore detection of degradation in such landscapes by: 1) transparently evaluating land cover transitions; 2) comparing assessments using global and national data; 3) identifying misleading trends; and 4) including extra sub-indicators for additional forms of degradation. Our results demonstrate significant impacts on the indicator both from the land cover transition evaluation and choice or availability of data. Critically, we identify a misleading improvement trend due to a trade-off between improvement detected by the productivity sub-indicator, and 30-year soil carbon loss trends in croplands (11% from 1978 to 2007). This carbon loss trend would not be identified without additional data from Countryside Survey (CS). Thus, without incorporating field survey data we risk overlooking the degradation of regulating and supporting ecosystem services (linked to soil carbon), in favour of signals from improving provisioning services (productivity sub-indicator). Relative importance of these services will vary between socioeconomic contexts. Including extra sub-indicators for erosion or critical load exceedance, as additional forms of degradation, produced a switch from net area improving (9%) to net area degraded (58%). CS data also identified additional degradation for soil health, including 44% arable soils exceeding bulk density thresholds and 35% of CS squares exceeding contamination thresholds for metals.

Can sustainable development goals go hand in hand with economic growth? Evidence from Morocco

This study investigates the influence of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the economic growth of Morocco. The main purpose is to empirically verify whether the pursuit of sustainable development goals can go hand in hand with economic growth. Employing a robust least squares regression, this paper analyzed carefully chosen data that closely aligns with the essence of the SDG indicators. The findings reveal a positive correlation between financial inclusion and financial stability and the economic growth. Conversely, the poverty reduction exerts a positive effect on economic growth, while the quality of education does not sufficiently account for changes in GDP. Moreover, the estimates indicate a favorable outcome stemming from the enhancement of institutional quality, reflected in improved economic freedoms, as well as the reduction of administrative burdens, both of which positively contribute to economic growth. Furthermore, the results demonstrate a negative impact of renewable energy and a negligible influence of energy efficiency on Morocco’s economic growth. The negative impact of renewable energy can be attributed to a number of sources, including high initial costs, structural changes in the industry and the need to set up infrastructure for production. The positive effects of adopting renewable energies on economic growth can take time to be realized over the very long term.

High-resolution global map of closed-canopy coconut palm

Abstract. Demand for coconut is expected to rise, but the global distribution of coconut palm has been studied little, which hinders the discussion of its impacts. Here, we produced the first 20 m global coconut palm layer using a U-Net model that was trained on annual Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 composites for the year 2020. The overall accuracy was 99.04 ± 0.21 %, which was significantly higher than the no-information rate. The producer's accuracy for coconut palm was 71.51 ± 23.11 % when only closed-canopy coconut palm was considered in the validation, but this decreased to 11.30 ± 2.33 % when sparse and dense open-canopy coconut palm was also taken into account. This indicates that sparse and dense open-canopy coconut palm remains difficult to map with accuracy. We report a global coconut palm area of 12.66 ± 3.96 × 106 ha for dense open- and closed-canopy coconut palm, but the estimate is 3 times larger (38.93 ± 7.89 × 106 ha) when sparse coconut palm is included in the area estimation. The large area of sparse coconut palm is important as it indicates that production increases can likely be achieved on the existing lands allocated to coconut. The Philippines, Indonesia, and India account for most of the global coconut palm area, representing approximately 82 % of the total mapped area. Our study provides the high-resolution, quantitative, and precise data necessary for assessing the relationships between coconut production and the synergies and trade-offs between various sustainable development goal indicators. The global coconut palm layer is available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8128183 (Descals, 2023).

Measuring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals by companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in the light of the UNCTAD-ISAR guidance

Purpose: The article has two related purposes. The first is to identify the indicators used to measure the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the integrated or non-financial reports of companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) using the methodology of the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Accounting and Reporting Standards (UNCTAD-ISAR). The second objective is to determine the factors that affect the number of SDG indicators disclosed by listed companies.Methodology/approach: The study covers the 62 reports of listed companies on the WSE for 2020 and 55 reports for 2019 (random selection). The following research methods were used: analysis of the content of reports and selected methods of descriptive and mathematical statistics (linear multiple regression and nonparametric U Mann-Whitney test).Findings: The companies disclosed, on average, few SDG indicators in their integrated report or non-financial report, i.e., 11 of the 33 adopted in the UNCTAD-ISAR guidance. The most indicators of this type included in the integrated report of a very large company was 21. The study results indicate that the number of disclosed measures of SDGs depends on company size, the type of report, and the company’s activity in controversial industries. Including a company in the WIG-ESG index does not affect the number of measures presented by the company.Research limitations/implications: The limitation of the study is the small research sample and the inclusion of only companies listed on the WSE.Originality/value: A novelty in the study is the inclusion of the UNCTAD-ISAR guidance and linking disclosures by companies in their external reports with the measurement of implementation of global SDGs.

Leaving no One Behind: Displaced Persons and Sustainable Development Goal Indicators on Sexual and Reproductive Health

This paper critically reviews evidence on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of people displaced due to conflict and violence, addressing the question, “How visible are displaced persons in sustainable development goal (SDG) indicators on SRH?” Gaps in monitoring processes are not just statistical limitations; indicators are modes of power, and who and what gets measured counts. The data corpus comprises national surveys recommended as data sources for SDG indicators 3.7.1 (contraceptive demand satisfied by modern methods) and 5.6.1 (SRH decision making), conducted in Asia since 2015. The review identifies 31 national surveys collecting data on these indicators, of which six include some form of displacement screening. The quality of displacement questions is mixed, but overall, does not meet recommendations by the Expert Group on Refugee, IDP and Statelessness Statistics. Estimates of SDG indicators 3.7.1 and 5.6.1 are presented for displaced vs. national host populations, but comparability is limited by measurement and representation issues. Certain groups are made invisible, including younger adolescents, older and unmarried women and the heterogeneity of displaced people is blurred.

Bridging the gaps in the global governance of antimicrobial resistance: the UN sustainable development goals and global health security agenda

Background: This paper examines the suitability of extant governance frameworks at an international level for addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is a creeping crisis for global health security. Methods: Our study begins by evaluating the place of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets and indicators. This is followed by a discussion of the global health security agenda (GHSA). We examine how AMR needs to be taken more seriously within global policy frameworks based on adopting a One Health approach. The research is supported by a systematic analysis of the national action plans for addressing AMR published by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Results: We determine that political leaders need to do more to promote the problem of AMR and that global health institutions need to invest more energy in thinking about how AMR is governed as part of an already busy global health security agenda. This includes building capacities within health systems, embedding evaluation processes, and enhancing public service leadership within this area. Conclusions: Our review of global policy frameworks and the national plans for AMR highlight the patchy coverage of AMR strategies globally and nationally. This article represents a springboard for future research including whether and to what extent a One Health approach to AMR in the environment has been implemented in practice within national health and environmental systems.

What Gets Measured Gets Done: Challenges in Monitoring Water, Energy, and Food Security in Northern Canada

This paper describes the challenges that were encountered during the collection of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators for water (SDG 6), energy (SDG 7), and food (SDG 2) security in northern Canada. Our findings indicate only 49% of indicator data were publicly available, while 21% had to be calculated using alternative sources or methods, 18% had to be replaced with proxy indicators for which data were available, and 12% of indicators were deemed unavailable entirely. The most common types of data challenges were associated with completeness, timeliness, and granularity. Given the current challenges faced by residents of northern Canada, with their livelihoods closely intertwined with the accessibility and availability of water, energy and food (WEF) resources, a comprehensive plan for data collection, storage, and management of WEF-related SDGs is required to advance WEF security from an aspirational to a transformative policy agenda.

The Present and Future Role of Rice‐Animal Co‐Culture Systems in Meeting Sustainable Development Goals

AbstractRice‐animal co‐culture (RAC) systems are an integrated farming approach to mitigate the diverse challenges facing the food system. Studies of the production potential and ecological mechanisms of RAC systems have demonstrated natural advantages over traditional production systems. The quantification of the advantages and the potential promotion of RAC systems at regional and global scales, however, remains unclear. Writing in Earth's Future, Cui et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EF002984) comprehensively assessed an ecological RAC system and identified the potential benefits of global promotion using a meta‐analysis. In this commentary, we contextualized Cui et al.'s (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EF002984) study and further theoretically clarified the connections of RAC systems to the various sustainable development goals (SDGs) and targets, with references to the officially released list of SDG indicators. Moreover, we discussed the limitation of the current studies and pointed out some potential directions for future research to understand the present and future roles of RAC systems in meeting the multiple SDGs.