Toward evaluating the effect of technology choices on linkages between sustainable development goals.

ABSTRACT: Linkages between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have sparked research interest because a better understanding of SDG co-benefits may enable faster progress on multiple sustainability fronts. However, SDG linkages are typically analyzed without considering the technologies used to implement a primary SDG, which may have secondary effects on other SDGs. Here, we outline an approach to study this problem by connecting the industries and services required to produce a technology to the United Nations SDG indicator framework, using SDG7 and four energy technologies as an illustrative case. We find that all technologies in our set involve potential co-benefits with SDGs 1, 8-10, 12-13, and 17, and trade-offs with SDGs 6, 8-9, 11-12, and 14-15. Deployment services primarily induce co-benefits; manufacturing has mixed impacts. Our work sheds light on the technology characteristics (e.g., scale, high- or low-tech) that influence linkages while also pointing to SDG-relevant characteristics not captured by UN indicators.

SUBMITTER: Klemun MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9869479 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature