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Prospects for global sustainable development through integrating the environmental impacts of economic activities

Author

Listed:
  • Siqi Han

    (State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources
    China Agricultural University
    Michigan State University)

  • Chunding Li

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Mengyu Li

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Manfred Lenzen

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Xiuzhi Chen

    (State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources
    China Agricultural University)

  • Yuqian Zhang

    (Michigan State University
    The School for Field Studies)

  • Mo Li

    (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Tuo Yin

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Yingjie Li

    (Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University)

  • Juan Li

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Jianguo Liu

    (Michigan State University)

  • Yunkai Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources
    China Agricultural University)

Abstract

Human economic activities drive the production and consumption of goods and services, contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the extent of economic growth’s influence on the SDGs remains unclear. To fill this knowledge gap, here, we quantified the environmental effects of economic activities and explored correlations between environmental effect and achieving SDGs. We developed six Environmental Footprint Indices, with a higher score indicating better efficiency or lower burden. Here we show that the various Environmental Footprint Indices had synergistic and trade-off effects on most SDG targets indices, but the synergistic effects prevailed. As income increased, the correlation between Environmental Footprint Indices and SDG target indices gradually strengthened. improved production efficiency and consumption changes notably advance SDGs, especially in low-income group countries. Our work provides scientific insights into the impact and prospects of environmental regulation required for achieving the SDGs by 2030.

Suggested Citation

  • Siqi Han & Chunding Li & Mengyu Li & Manfred Lenzen & Xiuzhi Chen & Yuqian Zhang & Mo Li & Tuo Yin & Yingjie Li & Juan Li & Jianguo Liu & Yunkai Li, 2024. "Prospects for global sustainable development through integrating the environmental impacts of economic activities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-52854-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52854-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Måns Nilsson & Dave Griggs & Martin Visbeck, 2016. "Policy: Map the interactions between Sustainable Development Goals," Nature, Nature, vol. 534(7607), pages 320-322, June.
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    3. David Lusseau & Francesca Mancini, 2019. "Income-based variation in Sustainable Development Goal interaction networks," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(3), pages 242-247, March.
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