
Following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement in 2015, experts have stressed the importance of policy coherence in implementing both frameworks to ensure progress is made on climate and development goals simultaneously. However, research on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) interactions has mainly focused on identifying synergies and trade-offs within specific SDG sectors or regions, rather than globally across both agendas.
Impact of a 1.5°C Climate Target on Synergies and Trade-offs
To address this gap, we conducted a global-level analysis to determine how incorporating a 1.5°C climate target boundary condition affects synergies and trade-offs among specific Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. Using a cross-impact matrix based on expert perceptions, we provide a global overview of whether progress can be made on key development goals while reducing emissions. We also highlight SDG targets that conflict with one another when implemented in a context that requires reducing climate-changing emissions.
Key Objectives for Progress on SDGs while Reducing Emissions
Overall, we found that pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C results in synergetic interactions between key SDG targets at a global level. Our study reveals two objectives that are most effective in making progress on all other targets: advancing climate finance and Official Development Assistance (ODA) and integrating climate change into national policy.
Implications for Policy and Further Research on Synergies and Trade-offs
Furthermore, our research shows that achieving the SDG targets alongside staying within the 1.5°C warming limit would significantly reduce inequality, vulnerability, and poverty while boosting resilience and adaptive capacity globally. Although our findings suggest strong synergies between the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, further research is needed to explore how these synergies can be effectively implemented and whether trade-offs and goal conflicts manifest in different ways.