Towards understanding interactions between Sustainable Development Goals

The role of environment–human linkages

Bibliographic Data

ID12950296
AuthorsJörn P W Scharlemann (0000-0002-2834-6367, University of Sussex, corresponding author), Rebecca C Brock (0000-0002-4868-6377, World Conservation Monitoring Centre), Nicholas J Balfour (0000-0002-2426-3898, University of Sussex), Claire Brown (0000-0002-6324-266X, World Conservation Monitoring Centre), Neil D Burge (0000-0003-2291-4535, University of Copenhagen), Miriam K Guth (World Conservation Monitoring Centre), Daniel J Ingram (0000-0001-5843-220X, University of Sussex), R Lane (0000-0001-8611-3994, University of Sussex), Juliette Martin (0000-0002-2862-8540, World Conservation Monitoring Centre), Sylvia Wicander (World Conservation Monitoring Centre), Valerie Kapos (0000-0002-5739-8262, World Conservation Monitoring Centre)
Year2020
Volume15
Issue6
Pages1573-1584
Publication date2020-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSustainability Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1862-4057 • E-ISSN: 1862-4065
PublisherSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s11625-020-00799-6
OpenAlexW3014645715
LanguageEN
Citations received56
References cited36

Only 10 years remain to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally, so there is a growing need to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of action by targeting multiple SDGs. The SDGs were conceived as an ‘indivisible whole’, but interactions between SDGs need to be better understood. Several previous assessments have begun to explore interactions including synergies and possible conflicts between the SDGs, and differ widely in their conclusions. Although some highlight the role of the more environmentally-focused SDGs in underpinning sustainable development, none specifically focuses on environment–human linkages. Assessing interactions between SDGs, and the influence of environment on them can make an important contribution to informing decisions in 2020 and beyond. Here, we review previous assessments of interactions among SDGs, apply an influence matrix to assess pairwise interactions between all SDGs, and show how viewing these from the perspective of environment–human linkages can influence the outcome. Environment, and environment–human linkages, influence most interactions between SDGs. Our action-focused assessment enables decision makers to focus environmental management to have the greatest impacts and to identify opportunities to build on synergies and reduce trade-offs between particular SDGs. It may enable sectoral decision makers to seek support from environment managers for achieving their goals. We explore cross-cutting issues and the relevance and potential application of our approach in supporting decision making for progress to achieve the SDGs

Action (physics · Biology · Business · Economics · Environmental resource management · Management science · Pairwise comparison · Perspective (graphical · Process management · Sustainable development · Underpinning · Computer Science · Economic and Environmental Valuation · Engineering · Environmental Impact and Sustainability · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance · Ecology

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