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Environmental destruction not avoided with the Sustainable Development Goals

Author

Listed:
  • Yiwen Zeng

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Sean Maxwell

    (University of Queensland)

  • Rebecca K. Runting

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Oscar Venter

    (University of Northern British Columbia)

  • James E. M. Watson

    (University of Queensland
    Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program)

  • L. Roman Carrasco

    (National University of Singapore)

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were designed to reconcile environmental protection with socioeconomic development. Here, we compare SDG indicators to a suite of external measures, showing that while most countries are progressing well towards environmental SDGs, this has little relationship with actual biodiversity conservation, and instead better represents socioeconomic development. If this continues, the SDGs will likely serve as a smokescreen for further environmental destruction throughout the decade.

Suggested Citation

  • Yiwen Zeng & Sean Maxwell & Rebecca K. Runting & Oscar Venter & James E. M. Watson & L. Roman Carrasco, 2020. "Environmental destruction not avoided with the Sustainable Development Goals," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(10), pages 795-798, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:3:y:2020:i:10:d:10.1038_s41893-020-0555-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-0555-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Frank Biermann & Thomas Hickmann & Carole-Anne Sénit & Marianne Beisheim & Steven Bernstein & Pamela Chasek & Leonie Grob & Rakhyun E. Kim & Louis J. Kotzé & Måns Nilsson & Andrea Ordóñez Llanos & Chu, 2022. "Scientific evidence on the political impact of the Sustainable Development Goals," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(9), pages 795-800, September.
    2. Tom Henfrey & Giuseppe Feola & Gil Penha‐Lopes & Filka Sekulova & Ana Margarida Esteves, 2023. "Rethinking the sustainable development goals: Learning with and from community‐led initiatives," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 211-222, February.
    3. Xueyan Wang & Hong Wu & Lu Lu, 2021. "A Novel Service Provision Mode for Sustainable Development of the Telecom Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, May.
    4. Cheng Tung Chong & Jo-Han Ng, 2023. "Limitations to sustainable renewable jet fuels production attributed to cost than energy-water-food resource availability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Yiwen Zeng & Rebecca K. Runting & James E. M. Watson & Luis Roman Carrasco, 2022. "Telecoupled environmental impacts are an obstacle to meeting the sustainable development goals," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(1), pages 76-82, February.
    6. Hametner, Markus, 2022. "Economics without ecology: How the SDGs fail to align socioeconomic development with environmental sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    7. Ajay Chhibber, 2021. "Measuring Human Development for the Anthropocene," Working Papers 2021-06, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    8. Dongni Han & Deyong Yu & Jiangxiao Qiu, 2023. "Assessing coupling interactions in a safe and just operating space for regional sustainability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    9. Guillaume Lafortune & Grayson Fuller & Guido Schmidt-Traub & Christian Kroll, 2020. "How Is Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals Measured? Comparing Four Approaches for the EU," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-24, September.
    10. Hoong Chen Teo & Alex Mark Lechner & Saut Sagala & Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, 2020. "Environmental Impacts of Planned Capitals and Lessons for Indonesia’s New Capital," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-17, November.
    11. Gebara, C.H. & Laurent, A., 2023. "National SDG-7 performance assessment to support achieving sustainable energy for all within planetary limits," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    12. Camila Bañales-Seguel & Wladimir Riquelme Maulén & Amaya Álvez & Evelyn Habit, 2020. "Scientific Landscape Related to Mapuche Indigenous Peoples and Wallmapu Territory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-30, September.
    13. Rita Nerland & Heidi Rapp Nilsen & Bjørn Andersen, 2023. "Biosphere‐based sustainability in local governments: Sustainable development goal interactions and indicators for policymaking," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 39-55, February.
    14. Bryane Michael & Nataliya Koroleska & Andy Tai & David Wai Ho Wong, 2022. "A critical look at using financial technology policy to promote the sustainable development goals," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1911-1920, December.
    15. Steven R. McGreevy & Christoph D. D. Rupprecht & Daniel Niles & Arnim Wiek & Michael Carolan & Giorgos Kallis & Kanang Kantamaturapoj & Astrid Mangnus & Petr Jehlička & Oliver Taherzadeh & Marlyne Sah, 2022. "Sustainable agrifood systems for a post-growth world," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(12), pages 1011-1017, December.
    16. Bali Swain, Ranjula & Ranganathan, Shyam, 2021. "Modeling interlinkages between sustainable development goals using network analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    17. Daniele Conversi, 2021. "Exemplary Ethical Communities. A New Concept for a Livable Anthropocene," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-17, May.
    18. Christopher Dickens & Matthew McCartney & David Tickner & Ian J. Harrison & Pablo Pacheco & Brown Ndhlovu, 2020. "Evaluating the Global State of Ecosystems and Natural Resources: Within and Beyond the SDGs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-22, September.
    19. Adriana Liute & Maria Rosa De Giacomo, 2022. "The environmental performance of UK‐based B Corp companies: An analysis based on the triple bottom line approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 810-827, March.

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