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Spatio-temporal changes in the causal interactions among Sustainable Development Goals in China

Author

Listed:
  • Min Cao

    (Nanjing Normal University
    International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals
    Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application)

  • Min Chen

    (Nanjing Normal University
    International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals
    Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application)

  • Junze Zhang

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences)

  • Prajal Pradhan

    (Member of the Leibniz Association
    Bauhaus Earth)

  • Huadong Guo

    (International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals
    Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Bojie Fu

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences
    Beijing Normal University)

  • Yue Li

    (Nanjing Normal University)

  • Yuying Bai

    (Nanjing Normal University)

  • Lijiao Chang

    (Nanjing Normal University)

  • Yu Chen

    (International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals)

  • Zhongchang Sun

    (International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals)

  • Zhenci Xu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Rui Zhu

    (Institute of High Performance Computing, A*STAR)

  • Michael E. Meadows

    (University of Cape Town)

  • Guonian Lü

    (Nanjing Normal University
    Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application)

Abstract

Extensive efforts have been dedicated to deciphering the interactions associated with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, these developments are hampered by a lack of efficient strategies to avoid beneficial synergies being offset by harmful trade-offs. To fill these gaps, we used causal diagnosis and network analysis methods to construct 1302 directed networks of SDGs for 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2020. We observed a dramatic offsetting effect of SDG synergies and trade-offs in China from 2000 to 2020, with approximately 27% of trade-off indicator pairs turning into synergies and about 25% of the synergy indicator pairs turning into trade-offs. However, our findings suggested that prioritising the progress of high-frequency indicators in virtuous cycles could multiply the positive systemic effects of the SDGs. Moreover, controlling the transition from passive to active in the trade-off network of SDGs remains a challenge in advancing the SDGs holistically.

Suggested Citation

  • Min Cao & Min Chen & Junze Zhang & Prajal Pradhan & Huadong Guo & Bojie Fu & Yue Li & Yuying Bai & Lijiao Chang & Yu Chen & Zhongchang Sun & Zhenci Xu & Rui Zhu & Michael E. Meadows & Guonian Lü, 2023. "Spatio-temporal changes in the causal interactions among Sustainable Development Goals in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-023-01952-z
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-01952-z
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    2. Yuqing Xu & Yu Chen & Min Cao & Lijiao Chang & Yuying Bai & Yue Li & Yaqi Guo, 2023. "Forecasting Future Development under the Interactions among Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-11, November.

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