A new study suggests that half the world’s governments risk undermining progress toward the SDGs, raising urgent questions about policy coherence and effectiveness as the 2030 deadline looms. Despite global commitment to these Goals, only 21% of countries have implemented policies that actively support their achievement, with environmental and governance targets facing the greatest challenges.
The research titled, ‘Evaluating Governmental Policies for the Sustainable Development Goals Using Hierarchical Clustering,’ introduces a data-driven method to assess the effectiveness of national policies. Researchers analyzed 84 key indicators across 170 countries using a machine learning algorithm called BIRCH (Balanced Iterative Reducing and Clustering using Hierarchies). This approach assigned scores to evaluate how well government policies support each of the 17 SDGs and the overall Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Key findings
The study finds that policies targeting human well-being show the most promise, with 39% to 56% of countries advancing SDGs on poverty eradication (SDG 1), health (SDG 3), education (SDG 4), and gender equality (SDG 5).
Environmental and governance Goals face severe obstacles, with 71% of countries with policies in place that hinder progress on life on land (SDG 15), 53% on peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16), and 52% on responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).
Policy coherence remains a significant issue, with many policies advancing one Goal while undermining others. Only one-third of the SDGs show positive correlations in policy effectiveness, the study shows.
These findings underscore the need for more cohesive and balanced policy frameworks to ensure holistic progress and highlight the urgency of addressing the unintended consequences of fragmented approaches.
Why these findings matter
As the world grapples with crises such as climate change, pandemics, and geopolitical conflicts, progress toward the SDGs has stagnated or reversed in many areas. This study provides a critical empirical foundation for assessing whether governments are effectively implementing policies that align with their SDG commitments.
Bridging science and policy
While numerous global initiatives track SDG progress – including the UN SDG reports and the annual UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s (SDSN) SDG Index – this study offers a novel perspective by focusing specifically on the effectiveness of government policies. It responds to calls from researchers for deeper empirical analyses to understand the extent, nature, and outcomes of SDG implementation across nations.
Lead authors emphasize that transformation is possible but warn that incremental changes are insufficient. They underscore that this paper presents but one way of crunching the numbers and that other methods may be considered as well. “Our findings aim to advance the empirical monitoring of SDG implementation and stimulate further discussion on achieving sustainable development by 2030,” they note.
As the 2030 deadline approaches, this study provides a vital tool for policymakers, researchers, and global stakeholders seeking to accelerate progress and ensure that no one is left behind.