Sustainable Development Goals and risks

The Yin and the Yang of the paths towards sustainability

Bibliographic Data

ID10889754
AuthorsNicolas Eckert (0000-0002-1880-8820, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement), Graciela M Rusch (0000-0003-3769-8345, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research), Graciela Rusch, Jari Lyytimäki (0000-0003-3308-5234, Finnish Environment Institute), Robert Lepenies (0000-0002-4454-5921, Karlshochschule International University), Florie Giacona (0000-0002-9539-8685, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement), Manuela Panzacchi (0000-0002-4645-9656, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research), Claire Mosoni (0009-0001-3704-2795, Finnish Environment Institute), Anders Branth Pedersen (0000-0002-4163-5649, Aarhus University), Jyri Mustajoki (0000-0003-3520-9173, Finnish Environment Institute), Raoul Mille (Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement), Didier Richard (0000-0003-3775-6736, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement), Kurt Jax (0000-0002-1052-0195, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research)
Year2023
Volume52
Issue4
Pages683-701
Publication date2023-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAMBIO (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0044-7447 • E-ISSN: 1654-7209
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s13280-022-01800-5
PMID36369605
OpenAlexW4308834517
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited64

The United Nations 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) define a path towards a sustainable future, but given that uncertainty characterises the outcomes of any SDG-related actions, risks in the implementation of the Agenda need to be addressed. At the same time, most risk assessments are narrowed to sectoral approaches and do not refer to SDGs. Here, on the basis of a literature review and workshops, it is analysed how SDGs and risks relate to each other's in different communities. Then, it is formally demonstrated that, as soon as the mathematical definition of risks is broadened to embrace a more systemic perspective, acting to maintain socio-environmental systems within their sustainability domain can be done by risk minimisation. This makes Sustainable Development Goals and risks "the Yin and the Yang of the paths towards sustainability". Eventually, the usefulness of the SDG-risk nexus for both sustainability and risk management is emphasized

Business · Economics · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Management · Management science · Nexus (standard) · Perspective (graphical) · Political science · Risk analysis (engineering) · Risk management · Sustainability · Sustainable development · Computer Science · Environmental and Social Impact Assessments · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance · Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access