Sustainable development goal interactions

Various worldwide crises are deeply connected: the climate crisis and biodiversity loss alongside social inequality and economic fragility. To address this complexity, in her thesis Anne Warchold adopts a systems perspective to analyze Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) interactions, using the 2030 Agenda as a blueprint for long-term sustainability. 

Applying qualitative reviews, quantitative analyses, and causal inferences, Warchold examines SDG interactions across contexts and scales. The findings contribute to five key narratives shaping sustainable development discourse: (1) treating SDGs in silos contradicts their very essence, only by recognizing their interconnectedness can synergies be leveraged and trade-offs effectively mitigated; (2) data availability and selection shape sustainability narratives; and (3) inclusive approaches to "leave no one behind" can act as multipliers for SDG progress. 

Economic transitions, such as the shift to a bioeconomy, are framed as sustainability accelerators. However, this thesis further highlights competing priorities of sustainability agendas as (4) bioeconomy transitions cause significant negative impacts, with sustainability progress often benefiting the bioeconomy more than vice versa; while (5) countries' bioeconomy strategies prioritize opportunities for change but sidestep potential trade-offs. 

Given the inevitability of some trade-offs and crises, a holistic understanding of synergies and trade-offs is key for informed SDG prioritization. By making the 2030 Agenda's complexity tangible, this thesis bridges disciplinary silos in research and enhances evidence-based decision-making in sustainability governance. Embracing systems perspectives and continuous commitment is essential for realizing the SDGs' transformative potential and will be beyond 2030.

Dissertation: https://hdl.handle.net/11370/b85d35dd-e807-40c2-a2d6-66971cac1659