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Scientific Attention to Sustainability and SDGs: Meta-Analysis of Academic Papers

Author

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  • Kimitaka Asatani

    (Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan)

  • Haruo Takeda

    (Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo 100-8280, Japan)

  • Hiroko Yamano

    (Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan)

  • Ichiro Sakata

    (Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan)

Abstract

Scientific research plays an important role in the achievement of a sustainable society. However, grasping the trends in sustainability research is difficult because studies are not devised and conducted in a top-down manner with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To understand the bottom-up research activities, we analyzed over 300,000 publications concerned with sustainability by using citation network analysis and natural language processing. The results suggest that sustainability science’s diverse and dynamic changes have been occurring over the last few years; several new topics, such as nanocellulose and global health, have begun to attract widespread scientific attention. We further examined the relationship between sustainability research subjects and SDGs and found significant correspondence between the two. Moreover, we extracted SDG topics that were discussed following a convergent approach in academic studies, such as “inclusive society” and “early childhood development”, by observing the convergence of terms in the citation network. These results are valuable for government officials, private companies, and academic researchers, empowering them to understand current academic progress along with research attention devoted to SDGs.

Suggested Citation

  • Kimitaka Asatani & Haruo Takeda & Hiroko Yamano & Ichiro Sakata, 2020. "Scientific Attention to Sustainability and SDGs: Meta-Analysis of Academic Papers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:4:p:975-:d:323613
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Wenxiao Chu & Francesco Calise & Neven Duić & Poul Alberg Østergaard & Maria Vicidomini & Qiuwang Wang, 2020. "Recent Advances in Technology, Strategy and Application of Sustainable Energy Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-29, October.
    2. Mehtab Alam & Fu-Ren Lin, 2022. "Internalizing Sustainability into Research Practices of Higher Education Institutions: Case of a Research University in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-30, August.
    3. Sukrit Vinayavekhin & Feng Li & Aneesh Banerjee & Andrea Caputo, 2023. "The academic landscape of sustainability in management literature: Towards a more interdisciplinary research agenda," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5748-5784, December.
    4. Kang, Xinyu & Wang, Minxi & Wang, Taixin & Luo, Fanjie & Lin, Jing & Li, Xin, 2022. "Trade trends and competition intensity of international copper flow based on complex network: From the perspective of industry chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    5. Zhen Liu & Guizhong Han & Jiajun Yan & Zhichao Liu & Mohamed Osmani, 2022. "The Relationship between Social Mentality and Health in Promoting Well-Being and Sustainable City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-26, September.
    6. Lanzalonga Federico & Chmet Federico & Petrolo Basilio & Brescia Valerio, 2023. "Exploring Diversity Management to Avoid Social Washing and Pinkwashing: Using Bibliometric Analysis to Shape Future Research Directions," Journal of Intercultural Management, Sciendo, vol. 15(1), pages 41-65, March.
    7. Rafael Ninno Muniz & Stéfano Frizzo Stefenon & William Gouvêa Buratto & Ademir Nied & Luiz Henrique Meyer & Erlon Cristian Finardi & Ricardo Marino Kühl & José Alberto Silva de Sá & Brigida Ramati Per, 2020. "Tools for Measuring Energy Sustainability: A Comparative Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-27, May.
    8. Zoran Pučko & Damjan Maučec & Nataša Šuman, 2020. "Energy and Cost Analysis of Building Envelope Components Using BIM: A Systematic Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-24, May.

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