Analyses on the role of non-state actors for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by United Nations (UN) Member States in September 2015, aims to solve world sensitive sustainability issues through 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as focus areas. The implementation of the SDGs will depend mainly on the voluntary commitments of member states, although an integrated approach between countries, disciplines and actors is needed.<br /> This study, through comprehensive analyses, considers three important elements of the 2030 Agenda: 1) "Partnerships for the Goals"; The 2030 Agenda, stresses the importance of alliances and partnerships, as explicitly expressed in Goal 17. The collaborations of multi-stakeholder networks can be beneficial, but evaluation of their impact remains a challenge. Analyses in Chapter 2, based on the contribution of Regional Centres of Expertise for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, explore these collaborations in local, national and international scale. 2) <em>"Indivisibility"</em> of the 2030 Agenda, and the interconnection between the Goals; it is widely accepted that the 17 SDGs are strongly interrelated and context dependent. The implications of Target 4.7 on the 17 SDGs, in the specific context, are addressed in Chapter 3. Strongest connections amongst thematic sustainability issues are identified in order to maximise synergies and to minimise negative influences. It helps to create a ground for common indicators that can contribute simultaneously to a set of Goals, and to the 2030 Agenda as a whole. 3) The <em>"All-inclusiveness"</em> aspect of the 2030 Agenda where every contribution is valid. Several "collaboration channels" for Citizen Science and the Agenda 2030, such as through organized networks representations in partnerships for the goals; contribution to each of the SDGs individually; involvement in the policy cycles; and education and data provision, are explored in Chapter 4. Challenges, critical aspects and a framework of interactions from the top-down and bottom-up perspective are discussed in order to encourage a broader and more effective engagement.<br /> This study has analysed the role of diverse non-state actors and disciplines in the process of achieving the 17 SDGs. It gives an overview to what extend they are involved, based on current evidence and on clear contextual settings, and of the specific difficulties, challenges and opportunities. Findings identify considerable efforts by these actors in aligning their work with the 2030 Agenda, but additional efforts and resources are needed. Financial issues and governance bottlenecks, uneven progress between Goals and regions, weak coordination mechanisms among stakeholders, silo approaches with the Goals etc. are considered to be the major challenges for achieving the SDGs.<br /> The timeframe for the SDGs implementation has entered the "Decade of Action" until 2030. Apart from the member state commitments, the emphasis on <em>"global", "local"</em>, and <em>"people"</em> would give importance to the involvement and increasing responsibilities of other actors, and contributions from all sources. New governance models at multi-levels, are needed to coordinate the SDGs and embrace the wide range of actors in the process. Global governance and regulating mechanisms at international level are necessary as national strategies will not be enough. Since networks and partnerships are dependent on their regional contexts and other circumstances, stronger cooperation with international organisations active in the SDGs implementation process would secure them a better position in the international arena. The study reinforces the idea that non-state actors can contribute outside their country contexts, at both local and international scale.