IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i15p6749-d1709126.html

Holding Sustainability Promises in Politics: Trends in Ecosystem and Resource Management in Electoral Party Manifestos

Author

Listed:
  • Gonçalo Rodrigues Brás

    (DINÂMIA’CET-Iscte, Iscte—Edifício 4, Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
    School of Management and Technology, Santarém Polytechnic University, Complexo Andaluz, 2001-904 Santarém, Portugal)

  • Ana Isabel Lillebø

    (ECOMARE, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Helena Vieira

    (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

Abstract

Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains a critical global challenge. This study analyses the environmental priorities related to SDGs 12, 14, and 15—interlinked and focused on responsible production and consumption, life below water, and life on land respectively—reflected in political party manifestos from the 2019, 2022, and 2024 Portuguese general elections, assessing their alignment with the SDGs and broader European political ideologies. A content analysis reveals significant disparities in attention across these goals, with SDG 15 receiving greater prominence than SDGs 12 and 14. Findings highlight the influence of political ideology, showing left-wing parties emphasize all three SDGs more consistently than their right-wing counterparts. These results underscore the need for a more balanced and comprehensive political commitment to sustainability. By exploring the interplay between national and European political agendas, this research provides valuable insights for aligning environmental policies with the UN 2030 Agenda and fostering transformative change in sustainability governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Gonçalo Rodrigues Brás & Ana Isabel Lillebø & Helena Vieira, 2025. "Holding Sustainability Promises in Politics: Trends in Ecosystem and Resource Management in Electoral Party Manifestos," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-38, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6749-:d:1709126
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6749/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6749/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fernando Almeida, 2022. "The Contribution of Local Agents and Citizens to Sustainable Development: The Portuguese Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Wang, Quan-Jing & Feng, Gen-Fu & Chen, Yin E. & Wen, Jun & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2019. "The impacts of government ideology on innovation: What are the main implications?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(5), pages 1232-1247.
    3. Jem Bendell, 2022. "Replacing Sustainable Development: Potential Frameworks for International Cooperation in an Era of Increasing Crises and Disasters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Juan Henriques & Paulo Ferrão & Muriel Iten, 2022. "Policies and Strategic Incentives for Circular Economy and Industrial Symbiosis in Portugal: A Future Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-24, June.
    5. Niklas Harring & Sverker C. Jagers, 2013. "Should We Trust in Values? Explaining Public Support for Pro-Environmental Taxes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-18, January.
    6. Magdalena Bexell & Kristina Jönsson, 2022. "Realizing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development – engaging national parliaments?," Policy Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(4), pages 621-639, July.
    7. Laura Recuero Virto, 2018. "A preliminary assessment of the indicators for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”," Policy Papers 2018.03, FAERE - French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
    8. Mikko Moilanen & Stein Østbye, 2021. "Doublespeak? Sustainability in the Arctic—A Text Mining Analysis of Norwegian Parliamentary Speeches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    9. Emma Ejelöv & Andreas Nilsson, 2020. "Individual Factors Influencing Acceptability for Environmental Policies: A Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Almeida, Maria Antónia, 2020. "The use of rural areas in Portugal: Historical perspective and the new trends," Revista Galega de Economía, University of Santiago de Compostela. Faculty of Economics and Business., vol. 29(2), pages 1-17.
    11. Unai Pascual & Patricia Balvanera & Christopher B. Anderson & Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer & Michael Christie & David González-Jiménez & Adrian Martin & Christopher M. Raymond & Mette Termansen & Arild Vatn, 2023. "Diverse values of nature for sustainability," Nature, Nature, vol. 620(7975), pages 813-823, August.
    12. Bernhard Forchtner, 2019. "Climate change and the far right," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 10(5), September.
    13. Moyer, Jonathan D. & Hedden, Steve, 2020. "Are we on the right path to achieve the sustainable development goals?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    14. Gonçalo Rodrigues Brás & Ana Lillebø & Helena Vieira, 2025. "Current climate action trends in party‐political manifestos: A content analysis provides hints to move forward," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 1948-1967, April.
    15. Måns Nilsson & Dave Griggs & Martin Visbeck, 2016. "Policy: Map the interactions between Sustainable Development Goals," Nature, Nature, vol. 534(7607), pages 320-322, June.
    16. Louis Meuleman, 2021. "Public Administration and Governance for the SDGs: Navigating between Change and Stability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, May.
    17. Vincent Tawiah & Abdulrasheed Zakari, 2024. "Government political ideology and green innovation: evidence from OECD countries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1-22, June.
    18. José Santana-Pereira & Elisabetta De Giorgi, 2022. "‘Your Luck is Our Luck’: Covid-19, the Radical Right and Low Polarisation in the 2022 Portuguese Elections," South European Society and Politics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(2), pages 305-327, April.
    19. Nill, Jan & Kemp, Ren, 2009. "Evolutionary approaches for sustainable innovation policies: From niche to paradigm?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 668-680, May.
    20. Owen, Ann L. & Videras, Julio, 2008. "Trust, cooperation, and implementation of sustainability programs: The case of Local Agenda 21," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1-2), pages 259-272, December.
    21. Christian Kroll & Anne Warchold & Prajal Pradhan, 2019. "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Are we successful in turning trade-offs into synergies?," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-11, December.
    22. Pedro-José Martínez-Córdoba & Víctor Amor-Esteban & Bernardino Benito & Isabel-María García-Sánchez, 2021. "The Commitment of Spanish Local Governments to Sustainable Development Goal 11 from a Multivariate Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, January.
    23. Rabi H. Mohtar, 2022. "The role of the private sector in sustainable development," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(7), pages 1023-1031, October.
    24. Luis Miguel Fonseca & José Pedro Domingues & Alina Mihaela Dima, 2020. "Mapping the Sustainable Development Goals Relationships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, April.
    25. Maria Cecilia Eduardo & Maria Helena Santos & Ana Lúcia Teixeira, 2023. "Gender and Politics: A Descriptive and Comparative Analysis of the Statutes of Brazilian and Portuguese Political Parties," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-16, August.
    26. Eduardo Medeiros, 2020. "Portugal 2020: An Effective Policy Platform to Promote Sustainable Territorial Development?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, February.
    27. Sylvia I. Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen & Maja Groff & Peter A. Tamás & Arthur L. Dahl & Marie Harder & Graham Hassall, 2018. "Entry into force and then? The Paris agreement and state accountability," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(5), pages 593-599, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gonçalo Rodrigues Brás & Ana Lillebø & Helena Vieira, 2025. "Current climate action trends in party‐political manifestos: A content analysis provides hints to move forward," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 1948-1967, April.
    2. Bogdan Ștefanachi & Silviu-Petru Grecu & Horia Costin Chiriac, 2022. "Mapping Sustainability across the World: Signs, Challenges and Opportunities for Democratic Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-28, May.
    3. Huijuan Xiao & Yue Liu & Jingzheng Ren, 2023. "Synergies and trade‐offs across sustainable development goals: A novel method incorporating indirect interactions analysis," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(2), pages 1135-1148, April.
    4. Matteo Trane & Luisa Marelli & Alice Siragusa & Riccardo Pollo & Patrizia Lombardi, 2023. "Progress by Research to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-37, April.
    5. Penglong Wang & Xiao Yu & Bingxin Xu & Qinhua Wang & Xuhong Wei & Bao Wang & Xueyan Zhao & Feng Gao, 2025. "Interactions Between SDG 6 and Sustainable Development Goals: A Case Study from Chenzhou City, China’s Sustainable Development Agenda Innovation Demonstration Area," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-24, April.
    6. Lucia Rocchi & Elena Ricciolini & Gianluca Massei & Luisa Paolotti & Antonio Boggia, 2022. "Towards the 2030 Agenda: Measuring the Progress of the European Union Countries through the SDGs Achievement Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    7. David Tremblay & François Fortier & Jean‐François Boucher & Olivier Riffon & Claude Villeneuve, 2020. "Sustainable development goal interactions: An analysis based on the five pillars of the 2030 agenda," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(6), pages 1584-1596, November.
    8. Hans Eickhoff, 2024. "The appeal of the circular economy revisited: on track for transformative change or enabler of moral licensing?," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    9. Jonas L. Appelt & Latsamy Siengsounthone & Sengaloun Phonekeo & Dirk Essink & Peter H. Verburg & Jasper van Vliet, 2025. "Trade‐offs and synergies between dimensions of well‐being among smallholder farmers in Savannakhet province, Lao PDR," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 1441-1457, February.
    10. Bernardino Benito & María‐Dolores Guillamón & Ana‐María Ríos, 2023. "The sustainable development goals: How does their implementation affect the financial sustainability of the largest Spanish municipalities," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 2836-2850, August.
    11. Myriam Pham‐Truffert & Florence Metz & Manuel Fischer & Henri Rueff & Peter Messerli, 2020. "Interactions among Sustainable Development Goals: Knowledge for identifying multipliers and virtuous cycles," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1236-1250, September.
    12. Anil Markandya & Laura Cavalli & Arnab Bhattacharya & Gregmar Galinato & Luca Farnia, 2025. "Links between the sustainable development goals: An analysis for Italy," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 1068-1084, February.
    13. Agnieszka Sompolska-Rzechuła & Agnieszka Kurdyś-Kujawska, 2021. "Towards Understanding Interactions between Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of Climate-Well-Being Linkages. Experiences of EU Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, April.
    14. Emily Ghosh & Leonie J. Pearson, 2025. "Rethinking Economic Foundations for Sustainable Development: A Comprehensive Assessment of Six Economic Paradigms Against the SDGs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-23, May.
    15. Alexander Brand & Mark Furness & Niels Keijzer, 2021. "Promoting Policy Coherence within the 2030 Agenda Framework: Externalities, Trade-Offs and Politics," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(1), pages 108-118.
    16. Alexander Griebler & Eva-Maria Holzinger & Michael Tost & Robert Obenaus-Emler & Peter Moser, 2025. "Towards Absolute Sustainability: Reflections on Ecological and Social Sustainability Frameworks—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-23, June.
    17. George Marbuah, 2019. "Is willingness to contribute for environmental protection in Sweden affected by social capital?," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 21(3), pages 451-475, July.
    18. Anne Warchold & Prajal Pradhan & Jürgen P. Kropp, 2021. "Variations in sustainable development goal interactions: Population, regional, and income disaggregation," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 285-299, March.
    19. Sælen, Håkon Grøn & Aasen, Marianne, 2023. "Exploring public opposition and support across different climate policies: Poles apart?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    20. Raghu Raman & Hiran Lathabhai & Santanu Mandal & Chandan Kumar & Prema Nedungadi, 2023. "Contribution of Business Research to Sustainable Development Goals: Bibliometrics and Science Mapping Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-37, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6749-:d:1709126. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.