Article: Scoping SDG interlinkages and methods to infer them Journal: International Journal of Sustainable Development (IJSD) 2024 Vol.27 No.5 pp.1 - 54 Abstract: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have generated a framework of goals, targets and indicators which aim at - among others - ending poverty, improving health, reducing inequality, and spurring economic growth. In this scoping study we examine the focus, methods and approaches used to extract interlinkages between the SDGs and their targets. To that end, we perform a systematic literature review and discuss the outcomes of an expert solicitation workshop with SDG experts to generate a framework of analysis. We evidence that the interlinkages domain is still exploratory, largely neglecting the local level and being disconnected to policy making. Methods used predominantly account for statistical and conceptual associations and correlations between SDGs, targets and indicators, and not for causal ones; hardly replicated, reproduced and verified. We therefore propose a framework of analysis, which takes into account those gaps to generate a process of integrating interlinkages into the policy and decision making process. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Scoping SDG interlinkages and methods to infer them

Authors: Emmanouil Chaniotakis; Alice Siragusa; Dimitrios Tzanis; Iraklis Stamos

Addresses: Energy Institute, University College London, No. 14 Upper Woburn Place, WC1H0NN, London, UK ' Territorial Development Unit, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Seville, Spain ' Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Hellenic Institute of Transport, 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Rd., 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece ' Territorial Development Unit, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Seville, Spain

Abstract: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have generated a framework of goals, targets and indicators which aim at - among others - ending poverty, improving health, reducing inequality, and spurring economic growth. In this scoping study we examine the focus, methods and approaches used to extract interlinkages between the SDGs and their targets. To that end, we perform a systematic literature review and discuss the outcomes of an expert solicitation workshop with SDG experts to generate a framework of analysis. We evidence that the interlinkages domain is still exploratory, largely neglecting the local level and being disconnected to policy making. Methods used predominantly account for statistical and conceptual associations and correlations between SDGs, targets and indicators, and not for causal ones; hardly replicated, reproduced and verified. We therefore propose a framework of analysis, which takes into account those gaps to generate a process of integrating interlinkages into the policy and decision making process.

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals; SDG interlinkages; UN 2030 Agenda; sustainability; sustainable development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.140326

International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2024 Vol.27 No.5, pp.1 - 54

Received: 26 Jul 2023
Accepted: 18 Apr 2024
Published online: 02 Aug 2024 *

Title: Scoping SDG interlinkages and methods to infer them

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