Unravelling the complexity in achieving the 17 sustainable-development goals

作者：Bojie Fu, Shuai Wang, Junze Zhang, Zengqian Hou, Jinghai Li · 发表于：National Science Review · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.1093/nsr/nwz038 · 被引用次数：354 · 研究领域：Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy、Global Energy and Sustainability Research、Sustainability and Climate Change Governance

It is now more than 3 years since the ratification of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development framework [1] but, according to the latest progress report, unless the rate of progress increases, it is challenging that all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be achieved by 2030 [2]. With only 11 years remaining until the 2030 deadline, it has become imperative to develop a plan of action to enable the full agenda to be realized. Specifically, there is an urgent need for a holistic approach to clarify the interrelationships between the 17 SDGs, while also taking into account their complexity and their sometimes mutually reinforcing or conflicting nature. Trying to achieve these goals separately in succession is nonsensical, but pursuing them simultaneously is impractical [3]. The fundamental logic underlying these complex relationships between the goals must be systematically expressed; only then will we be able to fully achieve them. Many studies have been conducted on the interlinkages among these 17 ‘holistic’ and ‘indivisible’ goals, and they have taken a range of different approaches. These include applying a nexus approach to the various goals [4], investigating the degree of interactions among the different goals [5], employing network analysis [6] and even developing a sustainable-development model [7]. However, these studies have only analysed the synergies and trade-offs among the various goals, and they have usually championed the goals believed to be ...