Mapping the Implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Leal, W, Wall, T ORCID: 0000-0003-2334-3279, Lange-Salvia, A, Ozuyar, P, Luciana Londero, B, Azul, AM and Sharifi, A (2025) Mapping the Implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable Development, 33 (S1). pp. 561-576. ISSN 0968-0802

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Abstract

The implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a process which has been mobilising the international community – and resources – in an unprecedented way. But even though this world wide movement is expected to mobilise stakeholders from across all sociatey, it remains unclear how this process is yielding the expected results. In an attempt to address this knowledge gap, this study examines the literature on the implementation of the SDGs and performs a mapping of the extent to which they are being implemented. This study combines a bibliometric analysis using the major scientific databases, with a critical appraisal of the experiences and progresses documented in the “Encyclopedia of the UN SDGs”. The results show that whereas significant progress has been seen in implementing some SDGs, other goals remain under-prioritised or under-resourced. Also, some goals such as SDG13 (Climate action), SDG 3 (Health and Well Being), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) are more prominently present in the literature, when compared with the others. Based on the findings, the paper outlines some of the research needs which should be met, so as to address the implementation problems the mapping has identified.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sustainable development; UN SDGs; mapping; implementation; Environmental Sciences
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions:	Liverpool Business School
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	9 June 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	20 November 2025
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2025 11:05
Last Modified:	20 Nov 2025 14:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1002/sd.70012
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26554

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