Search

There is an urgent need to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and recent research has identified six critical transformations. However, studies are yet to demonstrate how these transformations could be practically accelerated in a national context and what their combined effects would be. Here we deploy integrated systems modelling with transition storylines to elaborate and project six transformation pathways to the SDGs in Australia. By combining quantitative accelerators in the form of decisive policies and investments with storylines that diagnose common impediments and identify enabling conditions for systems change, our study advances knowledge on how the six transformations could be unlocked and accelerated. We find that conditions for transformation are emerging due to recent cascading crises, that feasible and affordable interventions and solutions are readily available that could trigger ‘S-shaped’ acceleration by 2030, and that continued long-term investment in climate action and resilience could stabilize progress towards sustainable wellbeing targets by 2050.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) suffer from a lack of national data needed for effective monitoring and implementation. Almost half of the SDG indicators are not regularly produced, and available datasets are often out-of-date. New monitoring approaches using big data are advancing rapidly and can complement official statistics to help fill critical data gaps. However, there is poor information-sharing on the latest innovations and research collaborations across different thematic areas, and limited evaluation of strengths and weaknesses for supporting national monitoring. This paper provides a systematic review of the academic literature over the past 5 years relating to the use of big data to support monitoring of the SDGs. It reviews the state-of-the-art research using big data and advanced analytics to produce new datasets, the alignment of these datasets with the official SDG indicators, the main types and sources of big data used, and the analytical methods applied. We developed a set of evaluation criteria and applied it to highlight some of the strengths and limitations of these datasets derived from big data. We find that recent research has developed a considerable range of new datasets that could contribute to monitoring 15 goals, 51 targets, and 69 indicators. Dominant focal areas of research include land and biodiversity, health, water, cities and settlements, and poverty. Satellite and Earth Observation data were the primary sources used, most commonly applied with machine learning methods and cloud computing. However, several challenges remain, including ensuring the relevance of new datasets for monitoring SDG indicators, cost and accessibility considerations, sustainability aspects, and linking global datasets to nationally owned monitoring processes.

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) provide a framework of goals, targets, and indicators designed to guide national implementation of sustainable development to 2030. Several aspects of the framework are challenging, including its complex and integrated scope and transformational character. A range of approaches developed in the sustainability sciences can assist countries to address these challenges. In this paper, we evaluate recent scientific literature as well as national practice relating to the use of science‐based approaches to support and enable national SDG implementation. The review encompasses >150 articles from the peer‐reviewed and grey scientific literature, identifying 22 science‐based approaches developed and recommended by experts to support national implementation. We then review and evaluate recent practice and experience of 56 countries in implementing the SDGs and the extent to which these approaches are evident in Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Overall, we find some cross‐fertilization in the science‐policy interface of national SDG implementation, particularly in monitoring and evaluation. While scientific methods for evaluating interlinkages between the SDGs and understanding national transformations have advanced considerably in recent years, they are yet to become a feature of the VNRs reviewed. There is evidence that demand for these approaches is increasing, and it will be critical that researchers understand the needs of policy makers and other stakeholders and design tools that provide practical and actionable evidence that assist countries to understand, quantify, and implement the transformations needed to achieve the SDGs over the coming decade.

The 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development of 2015 prominently stresses that 'the SDGs are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental' (UN [United Nations], 2015, p. 3). Behind this statement lies a reality of complex interlinkages between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their targets, the implementation of which may produce synergies but also trade-offs. Another innovative trait of the 2030 Agenda is its strong commitment to the 'quality of governance'. While the debate about the necessary elements of governance continues, most definitions today include inclusive and participatory decision-making, accountability, and transparency as its key institutional characteristics. These characteristics have been enshrined as targets under SDG 16 on 'Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions' that are not only considered desirable outcomes but also as enablers of all other SDGs. Yet another central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda is to Leave No One Behind (LNOB), which requires the participation of all segments of society to contribute to its implementation. There is broad consensus in contemporary academic and policy debates that innovative governance approaches will be essential to achieve an integrated implementation of the interlinked SDGs and to fulfil the LNOB commitment. A more recent debate, which has gained traction since the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in 2021, focuses on the just transition towards climate-just, equitable and inclusive societies. At the centre of this debate lies the understanding that governments will be unable to gain public support for the prioritisation of climate actions if they do not succeed in drastically reducing poverty and inequality. It will be necessary that just climate transition be based on the principles of procedural, distributional and recognitional justice. So far, these two debates have run in parallel without cross-fertilising each other. This Policy Brief makes the case that the debate on just transition has much to gain from the academic findings generated by research on the role of governance in managing SDG interlinkages. It is based on a recent study by IDOS and the UNDP Oslo Governance Centre (UNDP OGC) that collates empirical evidence on the effects of governance qualities (SDG 16) on the reduction of poverty (SDG 1) and inequalities (SDG 10) (DIE* & UNDP OGC, 2022). The study finds that: * Improved levels of participation and inclusion are positively associated with poverty reduction; * Higher levels of access to information, transparency and accountability help to improve access to basic services and targeting of social protection policies. These findings provide policymakers with an empirical basis to argue that investments in the achievement of the governance targets of SDG 16 can act as catalysts for interventions seeking to reduce poverty and inequalities. Against this backdrop, this Policy Brief argues that the governance targets of SDG 16 are not only institutional preconditions for the reduction of poverty and inequalities but also contribute towards just transitions. More specifically: they are institutions that contribute towards the justice principles that constitute the basis of just transition and exhibit the governance qualities postulated by SDG 16. It is important to note that debates on the quality of governance and just transition do not take place in a political vacuum. In view of global trends towards auto-cratisation (V-Dem 2022), the empirical findings regarding the enabling governance effects on poverty and inequality reduction carry the important policy implication that action to support just transition will in all likelihood be more successful if accompanied by proactive measures to protect and support democratic institutions and processes.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) combine complex interlinkages, future uncertainty and transformational change. Recent studies highlight that trade-offs between SDG targets may undermine achievement of the goals. Significant gaps remain in scenario frameworks and modelling capabilities. We develop a novel approach nesting national SDG scenario modelling within the global Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, selecting Australia as a use case. The integrated SDG–Australia model is used to project four alternative scenarios that adopt different development approaches. Although we find that Australia is off-track to achieve the SDGs by 2030, considerable progress is possible by altering Australia’s development trajectory. A ‘Sustainability Transition’ scenario comprising a coherent set of policies and investments delivers rapid and balanced progress of 70% towards SDG targets by 2030, well ahead of the business-as-usual scenario (40%). A focus on economic growth, social inclusion or green economy in isolation foregoes opportunities for greater gains. However, future uncertainty and cascading risks could undermine progress, and closing the gap to 100% SDG achievement will be very challenging. This will require a shift from ‘transition’ to ‘transformation’. A simulation nesting global and Australian scenarios on how to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals finds that working on all goals jointly has added benefits. In the path to achieve the goals, the last stages will be the most challenging.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive and integrated framework of targets and indicators to support national planning and reporting through until 2030. Interest in the SDGs is growing, as seen by the emergence of a range of data-driven assessments of progress, gaps and opportunities for achieving the SDGs. Despite this growing momentum, few national governments have completed their own evidence-based assessment of progress. This paper explores the method and results from an independent, evidence-based assessment of Australia’s progress towards the SDGs. The assessment evaluates Australia’s progress across 86 SDG targets and 144 corresponding indicators which were selected through an expert-driven, consultative process. The study uses a novel approach combining several contemporary methods to produce a comprehensive assessment of national progress on the SDGs. The results show that Australia has mixed performance on the SDGs, with strong progress in goals relating to health and education undermined by poor progress in goals relating to climate action and reducing inequalities. By comparing our results against other recent assessments of Australia’s progress, we observe that SDG assessment results are highly sensitive to the selection of indicators and assessment methods. Our assessment addresses these sensitivities by maintaining the integrity of the SDG framework and a clear linkage to official targets and indicators, while also having regard for national priorities and relevance. The study provides a timely contribution to research in the emerging field of evidence-based assessments of national progress on the SDGs.

Achieving net zero operational and embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the built environment is recognised in Australia and globally as a key strategy to address climate change and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, gaps in the knowledge remain regarding potential national pathways to achieve this outcome in Australia. This study further extends and applies a national-scale integrated macroeconomic simulation model to explore coherent pathways to net zero emissions in the built environment sector by 2050. The scope of the study includes residential and commercial buildings and both operational and embodied emissions. It applies scenario analysis incorporating different levels of climate ambition, including a shift to renewable energy, electrifying buildings, improving energy efficiency and replacing carbon-intensive materials. We find that a high ambition scenario (Scenario 2) delivers a 94% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050 when compared against business-as-usual, placing a net-zero target within reach. Improvements on Australia's SDGs performance are also attained. Through subsequent pathways analysis we find that achieving net zero or even net negative operational and embodied emissions is feasible with more ambitious action in key areas, including increasing the share of mass-timber buildings and reducing end-of-life losses in sequestered carbon.

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) provide an integrated, evidence-based framework of targets and indicators to support national planning and reporting. For countries to begin implementation of the SDGs, it is critical to build the evidence base for action. The integrated nature of the SDG targets mean that progress towards one target is also linked through complex feedbacks to other targets, placing demands on science and research to support national implementation. A range of different tools and approaches are recommended by experts, and an emerging challenge is to coherently apply and combine these different approaches to support decision-making. This study makes a significant contribution to filling this knowledge gap, adopting a novel integrated assessment approach to support the prioritisation of SDG targets through a case study for 22 countries in the Arab region. The research adopts a multi-criteria analysis decision framework which assesses and prioritises SDG targets based upon their ‘level of urgency’, ‘systemic impact’, and ‘policy gap’. A range of complementary evidence- and science-based approaches are applied within the assessment framework, including baseline assessment and benchmarking of indicators, systems and network analysis of target interlinkages, and mapping of policy alignment and gaps. The study highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each of these analytical approaches, and demonstrates how they can be rapidly combined and applied.

The global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commenced in 2016 and provide an evidence-based framework for sustainable development planning and programming until 2030. There is emerging international practice and a growing catalogue of related reviews, assessments, guidelines and publications. While the expert community is clearly emphasising the need to adopt evidence- and science-based approaches to SDG implementation, policymakers now face the challenge of implementing the SDGs simultaneously in a coherent and integrated manner. Regular systematic reviews of national progress and approaches to implementing the SDGs are advisable to ensure that emerging science and knowledge is effectively informing national practice. This paper reviews the recent academic and expert literature as well as national experience in implementing the SDGs in 26 countries. It uses a systematic approach to analyse the degree to which key implementation stages and approaches recommended in the expert literature are being adopted and applied to support national SDG implementation on-the-ground. The review highlights that while progress has been made in some initial planning stages, key gaps remain in terms of the assessment of interlinkages, trade-offs and synergies between targets. Gaps are also clearly evident in the adoption of systems thinking and integrated analytical approaches and models. This is problematic as it may undermine effective implementation and the transformative potential of the SDGs. As more countries turn their attention to the SDGs, the review underscores the considerable risk that they will pursue the same ‘siloed’ or ‘linear’ approaches to sustainable development that have met with limited success in the past.

The recently adopted global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are intended to catalyse implementation of sustainable development. Their success or failure will rely heavily upon national implementation. However, the SDGs represent a broad, integrated and complex agenda that will be very challenging for countries to implement. Over the past decade, scenario analysis has emerged as a method that is particularly well suited to sustainable development and has seen a rapid expansion in national development planning practice. It will be an invaluable tool for governments in formulating their national SDG strategies. However, despite its increased application, there is limited guidance available on the use of scenario modelling in national development planning. By undertaking a review of the recent best practice literature as well as 22 contemporary scenario modelling case studies, this paper draws out lessons learned and proposes an iterative framework for ex ante scenario modelling to support national SDG planning. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

The recently-adopted global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will have significant implications for national development planning in both developed and developing countries in the post-2015 period to 2030. Integrated, nationally-owned SDG strategies will be at the centre of national efforts to implement the new sustainable development agenda. The long-run processes and systems perspective that are inherent in the SDGs present complex analytical problems for policymakers and analysts. Scenario analysis and quantitative modelling will be important analytical tools to support national sustainable development planning, and there is an increasingly sophisticated suite of models available to decision makers. This paper reviews and assesses a broad range of different quantitative models that have the potential to support national development planning for the SDGs. The study develops a typology and inventory of 80 different models, and then reviews the comparative strengths, weaknesses and general utility of different models through an initial screening and subsequent multi-criteria analysis of short-listed models. Current gaps in model capabilities are highlighted in the context of providing analytical support for national development planning for the SDGs. While some existing models are particularly relevant, it is unlikely that an ideal model can analyse all SDG targets and variables of interest within a single modelling framework. Top-down ‘macro framework’ models are likely to be more useful for undertaking system-level or economy-wide scenario analysis driven by the national long-term goals and targets, and for exploring trade-offs and synergies among sectors. Bottom-up sectoral models will be able to support far more detailed option-level impact analysis of concrete interventions, technologies and investments. Combining both approaches within an analytical framework will provide a robust approach for analysis and decision-making. The results highlight a range of potential gaps in current modelling capabilities, and provide some new tools to assist with model selection.

The recent adoption of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) confirms once again the growing importance of indicators in the context of ‘evidence-based decision making’. A sound indicator framework can turn the SDGs and their targets into a management tool to help countries develop implementation strategies, allocate resources and monitor progress. Indicator-based assessments will be a cornerstone of measuring progress on the SDGs through to 2030 at national, regional, global and thematic levels. Recent examples of indicator-based assessments and reports present useful case studies on emerging practice in the context of the SDGs, providing insights into the approaches and methods being adopted to measure and report on progress on the SDGs. In this context, this paper presents the recent experience of the United Nations in undertaking an indicator-based assessment for the Arab Sustainable Development Report (ASDR). The paper presents the innovative conceptual framework and approach used in the ASDR for benchmarking progress and analysing trends. The approach firstly takes a thematic ‘snapshot’ of progress and trends over two decades across 56 sustainable development indicators; a nested, integrated conceptual framework is then applied for a more in-depth exploration of interlinkages and dynamics among the SDGs. The approach emphasises the need to place human dignity and well-being at the core of the analysis; linkages to the natural resource base; the importance of peace, governance and institutions as crosscutting factors; and the role of the means of implementation for addressing gaps. This novel approach can be transferred and adapted to other regional contexts, and it is particularly relevant for developing regions where data gaps and the absence of targets present methodological challenges for any assessment.

It is well established that in both food- and drug-addicted individuals, there is dopamine resistance due to an association with the DRD2 gene A1 allele. Evidence is emerging whereby the potential of utilizing a natural, nonaddicting, safe, putative D2 agonist may find its place in recovery from reward deficiency syndrome (RDS) in patients addicted to psychoactive chemicals. Utilizing quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) as an imaging tool, we show the impact of Synaptamine Complex Variant KB220™ as a putative activator of the mesolimbic system. We demonstrate for the first time that its intravenous administration reduces or "normalizes" aberrant electrophysiological parameters of the reward circuitry site. For this pilot study, we report that the qEEGs of an alcoholic and a heroin abuser with existing abnormalities (ie, widespread theta and widespread alpha activity, respectively) during protracted abstinence are significantly normalized by the administration of 1 intravenous dose of Synaptamine Complex Variant KB220™. Both patients were genotyped for a number of neurotransmitter reward genes to determine to what extent they carry putative dopaminergic risk alleles that may predispose them for alcohol or heroin dependence, respectively. The genes tested included the dopamine transporter (DAT1, locus symbol SLC6A3), dopamine D4 receptor exon 3 VNTR (DRD4), DRD2 TaqIA (rs1800497), COMT val158 met SNP (rs4680), monoamine oxidase A upstream VNTR (MAOA-uVNTR), and serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5HTTLPR, locus symbol SLC6A4). We emphasize that these are case studies, and it would be unlikely for all individuals to carry all putative risk alleles. Based on previous research and our qEEG studies (parts 1 and 2 of this study), we cautiously suggest that long-term activation of dopaminergic receptors (ie, DRD2 receptors) will result in their proliferation and lead to enhanced "dopamine sensitivity" and an increased sense of happiness, particularly in carriers of the DRD2 A1 allele. This is supported by a clinical trial on Synaptamine Complex Variant KB220™ using intravenous administration in > 600 alcoholic patients, resulting in significant reductions in RDS behaviors. It is also confirmed by the expanded oral study on Synaptose Complex KB220Z™, published as part 2 of this study. Future studies must await both functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography scanning to determine the acute and chronic effects of oral KB220™ on numbers of D2 receptors and direct interaction at the nucleus accumbens. Confirmation of these results in large, population-based, case-controlled experiments is necessary. These studies would provide important information that could ultimately lead to significant improvement in recovery for those with RDS and dopamine deficiency as a result of a multiple neurotransmitter signal transduction breakdown in the brain reward cascade.

Background: It is well established that in both food- and drug-addicted individuals there is “dopamine resistance” associated with the DRD2 gene A1 allele. Based on earlier studies, evidence is emerging wherein the potential of utilizing a natural, nonaddicting, safe, putative D2 agonist may play a significant role in the recovery of individuals with reward deficiency syndrome, including those addicted to psychoactive chemicals. Findings: Positive outcomes demonstrated by quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) imaging in a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving oral Synaptose Complex KB220Z™ showed an increase of alpha waves and low beta wave activity in the parietal brain region. Using t statistics, significant differences observed between placebo and Synaptose Complex KB220Z™ consistently occurred in the frontal regions after week 1 and then again after week 2 of analyses (P = 0.03). This is the first report to demonstrate involvement of the prefrontal corte...

It is well established that in both food- and drug-addicted individuals there is "dopamine resistance" associated with the DRD2 gene A1 allele. Based on earlier studies, evidence is emerging wherein the potential of utilizing a natural, nonaddicting, safe, putative D2 agonist may play a significant role in the recovery of individuals with reward deficiency syndrome, including those addicted to psychoactive chemicals.Positive outcomes demonstrated by quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) imaging in a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving oral Synaptose Complex KB220Z™ showed an increase of alpha waves and low beta wave activity in the parietal brain region. Using t statistics, significant differences observed between placebo and Synaptose Complex KB220Z™ consistently occurred in the frontal regions after week 1 and then again after week 2 of analyses (P = 0.03). This is the first report to demonstrate involvement of the prefrontal cortex in the qEEG response to a natural putative D2 agonist (Synaptose Complex KB220Z™), especially evident in dopamine D2 A1 allele subjects. Independently, we have further supported this finding with an additional study of 3 serious polydrug abusers undergoing protracted abstinence who carried the DRD2 A1 allele. Significant qEEG differences were found between those who received 1 dose of placebo compared with those who were administered Synaptose Complex KB220Z™. Synaptose Complex KB220Z™ induced positive regulation of the dysregulated electrical activity of the brain in these addicts. The results are indicative of a phase change from low amplitude or low power in the brain to a more regulated state by increasing an average of 6.169 mV(2) across the prefrontal cortical region. In the first experiment we found that while 50% of the subjects carried the DRD2 A1 allele, 100% carried ≥ 1 risk allele. Specifically, based on the proposed addiction risk score for these 14 subjects, 72% had moderate-to-severe addiction risk. Similar findings were obtained by repeating the experiment in 3 additional currently abstinent polydrug abusers carrying the DRD2 A1 allele.This seminal work will provide important information that may ultimately lead to significant improvement in the recovery of individuals with psychostimulant and polydrug abuse problems, specifically those with genetically induced dopamine deficiency. Based on this small sample size, we are proposing that with necessary large populations supporting these initial results, and possibly even additional candidate genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms, we may eventually have the clinical ability to classify severity according to genotype and possession of risk alleles, along with offering a safe, nonaddicting, natural dopaminergic receptor agonist that potentially upregulates instead of downregulates dopaminergic receptors, preferably the D2 subtype.

The ophiolites of Othris, northern Greece, and Troodos, Cyprus, are of mixed lherzolite-harzburgite and harzburgite sub-type respectively. Within both ophiolites an entire spectrum of harzburgite, plagioclase harzburgite, lherzolite and plagioclase lherzolite interpreted respectively as residual and highly, moderately and slightly modified upper mantle has been recognised. Plagioclase lherzolite frequently contains gabbroic segregations generated by partial melting and incomplete extraction. Othris shows the full range of mantle peridotites while Troodos is dominated by harzburgite with very minor occurrences of plagioclase harzburgite and lherzolite. Chemically, the plagioclase lherzolites have low contents of the basaltophillic minor elements, and a composition slightly more residual than postulated upper mantle compositions, suggestive of a preceding phase of minor depletion. The Othris and Troodos ophiolites seem to have formed under fundamentally different environments — Othris as a marginal ophiolite at the inception on rifting of continental crust, and Troodos later in such an event when spreading was well established.

The first considerable production of tungsten from the Canadian Shield came from the Hollinger Gold Mine. Scheelite concentrates of exceptionally high grade and purity were milled from localized concentrations of this mineral in the quartz-ankerite and tourmaline-quartz-ankerite veins, which account also for most of the gold production. The position of the scheelite ore in these veins points to a genetic or structural dependence of the vein mineralization on the intrusive quartz porphyries.