Prioritising Sustainable Development Goals, characterising interactions,
and identifying solutions for local sustainability
Reihaneh Bandari
Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, VIC, 3125, Australia, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, VIC, 3125, Australia
Corresponding Author:[email protected]
Author ProfileEnayat A Moallemi
Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, VIC, 3125, Australia, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, VIC, 3125, Australia
Author ProfileRebecca E Lester
Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia, Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
Author ProfileDavid Downie
Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia, Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
Author ProfileAbstract
The United Nations 2030 Agenda brings a holistic and multi-sectoral view
on sustainability via the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However,
a successful implementation of this agenda is contingent on
understanding the multiple, complex interactions among SDGs, including
both synergies and trade-offs, for informing planning for sustainability
at the local level. Using a case study in the Goulburn-Murray region in
Victoria, Australia, we prioritised global goals and targets for the
local context, characterised the interactions between them, analysed the
main synergies and trade-offs, and identified potential policy solutions
to achieve local sustainability. We identified the five highest priority
SDGs for the region as clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), agricultural
activities (SDG 2), economic growth (SDG 8), climate action (SDG 13),
and life on land (SDG 15). Across these five priority SDGs and their 45
targets, we found 307 potential interactions, of which 126 (41%) were
synergistic, 19 (6%) were trade-offs, and 162 (53%) were benign. We
highlight the most salient trade-offs, particularly how unsustainable
agricultural practices could negatively affect water resources, the
environment, and sustainable economic growth. Also, critical ongoing
uncertainties like climate change, local policies on environmental water
recovery, international markets, and emerging new technologies could
pose risks for the future of agriculture and the economy. Our results
provide important insights for local and regional sustainability policy
and planning across multiple sectors. Our methodology is also broadly
applicable for prioritising SDGs and assessing their interactions at
local scales, thereby supporting evidence-based policy-making for the
SDGs.