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20 Dissertation Topics on Sustainability and Green Technology

Published by Carmen Troy at January 9th, 2023 , Revised On May 2, 2024

Introduction

Looking for interesting and manageable topics on sustainability and green technology for your dissertation or thesis? Well, you have come to the right place.

The subject of sustainability, green technology, and environmental friendliness has gained tremendous importance over the last few years – thanks to the ever-increasing pollution, climate change, and high production costs throughout the world.

Without wasting any more of your time, here are the 20+ dissertation topic ideas in this trendy field so you can choose the one that is not only intriguing but also manageable for you.

These topics have been developed by PhD writers of our team , so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting a brief research proposal from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an introduction to the topic, research question, aim and objectives, literature review, and the proposed methodology of research to be conducted. Let us know if you need any help in getting started.

Check our dissertation examples to get an idea of how to structure your dissertation .

Review the full list of dissertation topics here.

Latest Research Topics on Sustainability and Green Technology

Topic 1: the role of artificial intelligence (ai) and green technology in the develpment of smart and sustainable towns.

Research Aim: This study intends to find the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and green technology in developing smart and sustainable towns. It will review the concepts of smart and sustainable towns to show their importance in the modern era to reduce global warming. Then it will assess the role of AI by analysing various machine learning and deep learning models to show how these models can help develop smart and sustainable towns. Lastly, it will review what work has already been done in this area and what should be done.

Topic 2: Impact of Research and Development (R&D) Expenditure in Green Technology on the Sustainability Outcomes of the Construction Industry- A Case of Malaysian Construction Industry

Research Aim: This study intends to analyse the impact of research and revelopment (R&D) expenditure on green technology on the sustainability outcomes of the construction industry in Malaysia. It will review the current green technology used in the Malaysian construction industry and its development. Moreover, it will show how the construction industry is spending to develop new green technology and how much it requires to make it completely sustainable. It will also identify various national and international sources which can invest in this industry to make it more sustainable.

Topic 3: What are the Motivating and Demotivating Factors for Green Supply Chain Practices? An Exploratory Study Finding the Factors Affecting Green Supply Chain Practices in the UK

Research Aim: This research will identify various motivating and demotivating factors (return on green investment, production output, local and global competitiveness, political support, international support, investor support, etc.) for green supply chain practices. It will study various industries in the UK, such as construction, hotel industry, retail industry, etc., find out how the abovementioned factors affected their interest in green technology and green supply chain practices. Moreover, it will assess the work done in this area and how various institutions can motivate these industries.

Topic 4: Influence of Green Advertising on the Consumer View of Green Technology and Sustainability in the US

Research Aim: This study shows the impact of green advertising on the consumer perception of green technology and sustainability. It will assess how various components of green advertising work and how they affect the consumer perception of the need for green technology. Moreover, it will analyse different green advertising strategies used by companies in the US to influence consumer perception and how these strategies can be improved to make US consumers more interested in the products, which are products of an environment-friendly production process.

Topic 5: Green Economy a Necessity? Impact of Green Technology on Sustainable Economic Growth and Development- A Case of ASEAN Economies

Research Aim: It proposes a framework to analyse the impact of green technology on sustainable economic growth and development. It will show whether the green economy is essential for growth and development or not. It will assess various effects of green technology on the economy and ecology. And show how improving ecology can benefit human development, which can be good for long-term economic growth in the ASEAN countries. Lastly, it will analyse the current progress of these countries in creating a green economy.

Topic 6: The Potential of Biomimicry in Green Technology Innovation

Research Aim: This research explores and evaluates the potential applications of biomimicry principles in driving innovation within green technology. The purpose of the study is to enhance sustainability, resource efficiency, and environmental conservation.

Topic 7: Circular Economy and its Application in Achieving Sustainability Targets

Research Aim: This study investigates the concept of the circular economy and its practical implementation strategies. It focuses on the effectiveness of the circular economy in facilitating the achievement of sustainability targets across various industries and sectors.

Topic 8: Sustainable Water Management in the Era of Climate Change

Research Aim: This research examines the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainable water management in the context of climate change. The study identifies effective strategies, technologies, and policies to ensure resilient and equitable access to clean water resources while mitigating the impacts of climate variability and extreme events.

Topic 9: The Role of Information Technology in Advancing Sustainability Initiatives

Research Aim: This study investigates the multifaceted role of information technology (IT) in advancing sustainability initiatives across various sectors. It explores how IT innovations, such as big data analytics, IoT (Internet of Things), blockchain, and AI (Artificial Intelligence), can contribute to enhancing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable development goals.

Topic 10: Corporate Social Responsibility and Green Technology Adoption: A Case Study Analysis

Research Aim: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive case study analysis to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and the adoption of green technologies within organisations. It examines understanding the motivations and outcomes associated with integrating sustainability initiatives into corporate strategies and operations.

Topic 11: Impact of Smart Grid Technologies for Sustainable Energy Management

Research Aim: This research assesses the impact of smart grid technologies on sustainable energy management. The study focuses on understanding how the integration of advanced grid infrastructure, renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and demand-side management techniques contributes to increasing energy efficiency, grid reliability, and environmental sustainability.

COVID-19 Sustainability and Green Technology Research Topics

Topic 1: covid-19 and the need to expand sustainable energy.

Research Aim: It’s high time to expand sustainable energy during COVID-19.

Topic 2: COVID-19 and the environment

Research Aim: This study will focus on the positive and negative impacts of COVID-19 on the environment.

Topic 3: Economic expenditure on the green environment during COVID-19

Research Aim: This study will review the economic expenditure and plans for the green environment during COVID-19.

Topic 4: The green economy after COVID-19

Research Aim: This study will analyse the current issues related to green technology and predict the future of a green environment after COVID-19.

Dissertation Topics Ideas on Sustainability and Green Technology on Global Impact

Topic 1: research on sustainable gardens.

Research Aim: This research aims to conduct research on creating sustainable gardens and identify their benefits.

Topic 2: Sustainable outdoor designs using recycled materials

Research Aim: This research aims to identify various methods of creating sustainable outdoor designs using recycled materials and identify their benefits.

Topic 3: Pollution-free disposal and recycling of trash

Research Aim: This research aims to identify various methods to ensure pollution-free disposal and recycling of trash

Topic 4: Importance of gardening- awareness and ideas for the city, terrace/roof gardening

Research Aim: This research aims to address the importance of gardening and its awareness among the public. It will also focus on identifying cost-effective and innovative ideas for the city, as well as terrace/roof gardening.

Topic 5: Examining the economic impacts of green technology

Research Aim: The research will involve comparing the costs incurred in developing green energy and the economic benefits. The services will be saved once alternative forms of materials and energy sources are used. It will be relevant in identifying whether it is worth investing in green technology from an economic perspective. It will also help in developing supportive policies that guide green technology.

Topic 6: How do national and regional politics affect environmental sustainability?

Research Aim: This research study will analyse the role of politics in the environment. It will explore the positive or negative impacts of individual political inclinations.

Topic 7: How sustainable is the environment in the current and forthcoming eras?

Research Aim: This research will analyse global trends and their impacts on environmental trends. Developments such as increasing population, climate change, and using various materials affect the people. It will inform about how sustainability measures can be structured to align with the trends.

Topic 8: Adoption of green energy by low-end users

Research Aim: The research will be based on realising a market niche that cannot afford or are not willing to spend on an expensive product. Additionally, the embrace of some advanced technologies varies across classes, mainly based on exposure. There is also the notion that green technology can be expensive, making the stated users reluctant to use it. Accordingly, the research will focus on the factors that give users their respective levels of green technology use.

Topic 9: How green technology can affect organisational processes

Research Aim: This research will analyse how processes that can include procuring and sourcing, producing, sales, marketing, and delivering products, among others, can be impacted once green technology is introduced. It will help analyse cost and time effectiveness and the satisfaction of the organisation’s stakeholders. It can help recommend structural changes when an organisation is considering green technology.

Topic 10: To what extent does green technology contribute to environmental sustainability?

Research Aim: notably, several factors are contributing to environmental degradation and pollution. While green technology has been identified in previous research to ensure sustainability, its contribution can be compared with other factors. Accordingly, recommendations can be made about whether it is the absolute solution to sustainability.

Topic 11: Green technology and global environmental sustainability frameworks

Research Aim: The study will assess how the frameworks affect the use of green technology. Various global environmental practices are commonly developed. The research will suggest any amendments to the frameworks to positively correlate them with green technology. Also, the topic will evaluate how the frameworks are implemented in various regions.

Topic 12: Green technology practices in developing countries

Research Aim: The research will explore the extent to which developing countries use and promote green technology. They are characterised by having a lower economy. The priority they have on sustainability will be established.

Topic 13: How do policies affect the use of green technology in a country?

Research Aim: The research acknowledges that regulatory bodies devise policies to guide various industries. The guidelines can be supportive or suppressive in the development and use of green technology. For instance, the bodies’ incentives can encourage green technology, while factors like high taxation can discourage it. Therefore, focusing on a particular country’s policies can be insightful into the level at which the technology is incorporated.

Topic 14: Incentives for green technology and environmental sustainability

Research Aim: The purpose of this study is to determine how green technology can be promoted among users and manufacturers. It will first identify the challenges that users can face when using and applying the technology. It will also evaluate the level of sensitisation about green technology that people in a region have. The various stakeholders can execute the incentives for environmental sustainability.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service , which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service !

More Research Titles on Sustainability and Green Technology

Topic 1: what roles do ngos have in environmental sustainability and green technology.

Research Aim: The research will establish how NGOs can be incorporated into sustainability. NGOs have distinct objectives. While some are specific to environmental conservation, others focus on aspects that indirectly affect the environment positively or negatively. The study will then suggest how the NGOs can be motivated to advance their operations and promote green technology.

Topic 2: Impactful green thinking to achieve sustainability

Research Aim: The research analyses human behaviour and issues that can promote sustainability. It explores how people can change their perspective on the environment and take measures at individual and collective levels. It will recommend some habitual changes that can positively impact the environment.

Topic 3: A holistic approach to environmental sustainability

Research Aim: Sustainability comprises various factors, ranging from behavioural, resources, technological, and procedural. Most studies have focused on particular sets of characteristics. However, it can be intriguing how integrating sustainability factors can be achieved. Also, it will be realised if implementing some measures of sustainability has any correlation to others.

Topic 4: Can there be a balance between lifestyle and green technology?

Research Aim: the study will assess the relationship between current lifestyle and green technology. It will be relevant in identifying the personal understanding of green technology’s contribution and how people are ready to adjust their lifestyle to technology. It will further show how green technology affects lifestyles.

Topic 5: How do businesses perceive green energy and environmental sustainability?

Research Aim: The research aims to identify how profit-making organisations approach green technology. It will focus on whether they find it less costly and useful. Also, it will establish whether they find products that involve green technology are usually marketable. Further, it will identify the organisation’s preference for the working environment, whether in regions that promote environmental sustainability or those that do not.

Topic 6: Examining sustainability policies in developed and developing countries

Research Aim: The research will compare regulations instituted in the two sets of countries. It will also assess the extent of implementation of the policies in the countries.

Topic 7: Challenges facing green technology as one of the drivers towards sustainability

Research Aim: The research will be based on green technology recognition as a crucial attribute of environmental sustainability. Despite the assertion, the technology has not attained universal coverage as it would be more impactful. The challenges can vary in economic, social, geographical, and regulatory aspects, and it is recommended that the research focus on a particular region. The results can also be analysed if there is a conflict of to identify any general challenges in the areas.

Topic 8: What is the consumer perspective towards green production?

Research Aim: Businesses target to satisfy the needs of consumers. The study will assess whether the consumer has a force towards producers that can make the latter inclined towards using green technology. This research study will essentially focus on the consumables industry.

Topic 9: Stakeholders’ contribution to green technology

Research Aim: The research will establish all the stakeholders in green energy. It will reveal their interests and drivers towards green technology. There will be an insight into whether there is a conflict of interest between the stakeholders and how it can be resolved. It will also help identify how the stakeholders can collaborate and integrate their resources and ideas.

Topic 10: Current trends in green technology and the future of technology

Research Aim: the research will aim to overview how green energy has been advancing over time. The trend will then help in predicting the future of green technology. Besides, it will be informative about the contribution green energy has had on environmental sustainability at various levels. It will then make recommendations about the optimum technology based on the available information and developments.

Also Read: Dissertation Topics in Engineering Management

How ResearchProspect Can Help You?

We are aware of the problems students are likely to face when it comes to finding a suitable topic in sustainability and green technology. Therefore our expert writers are always looking forward to assisting you with your topic search.

We hope you were able to find a suitable topic from the 20+ topic suggestions in green technology and sustainability provided in this article. But even if you didn’t find any of these topics suitable for your needs, you can always contact us to get custom topic ideas from our expert writers.

Our team of expert writers in any field you would like your work to be carried out in will facilitate you and ensure you get the grades that you are worthy of and deserve.

Important Notes:

As a student of sustainability and green technology looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment with existing sustainability and green technology theories – i.e., to add value and interest to your research topic.

Sustainability and green technology are vast and interrelated to many other academic disciplines like environmental engineering . That is why it is imperative to create a sustainability and green technology dissertation topic that is particular, sound, and solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic based on your fundamental research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your issue wrong; your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, and there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in writing your dissertation , as you may end up in a cycle of rejection at the initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best sustainability and green technology dissertation topics that fulfil your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalising your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and be practically implemented. Please look at some of our sample sustainability and green technology dissertation topics to get an idea for your dissertation.

How to Structure Your Dissertation on Sustainability & Green Technology

A well-structured dissertation can help students to achieve a high overall academic grade.

A Title Page
Acknowledgments
Declaration
Abstract: A summary of the research completed
Table of Contents
Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can also be added to this chapter.
Literature Review : This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature on the chosen research topic to address research questions . The purpose is to highlight and discuss the selected research area’s relative weaknesses and strengths whilst identifying any research gaps. Break down the topic and binding terms, which can positively impact your dissertation and your tutor.
Methodology : The data collection and analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter, which usually includes research design , research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and data analysis strategy .
Findings and Analysis : The findings of the research are analysed in detail in the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include graphs, charts, and tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
Discussion and Conclusion : The researcher presents his interpretation of results in this chapter and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section of the paper is to link the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regard to the implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
References : This should be completed following your University’s requirements
Bibliography
Appendices : Any additional information, diagrams, and graphs used to complete the dissertation but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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187 Sustainability Topics For Research Papers In 2023

If you are a student of environmental science or even technology, sustainability is a very important topic for your research papers. These topics help you study the impact of mankind on the environment and different options that are available to prevent further deterioration of the planet. There is a lot of scope for research on this subject, making it one of the most common topics for dissertation or thesis writing. Here is a list of some of the best environmental sustainability research topics that will help you get started on your research paper and project.

The topics below are practical and easy because you can find a lot of information about them. Whether you are writing an informative or argumentative paper, these topics are the perfect starting point for you.

Environmental Sustainability Research Topics

These sustainability research topics are suitable for in-depth data and analysis. They are ideal for lengthy writing assignments.

Draw a comparison between different non-profit groups that are dedicated to improving sustainability.
Can custom sustainable designs for classrooms improve learning?
Is adding better natural lighting a sustainable way of saving on energy costs in large organizations?
What are the different technological innovations that are focused on reducing environmental pollution?
Does veganism help protect the environment?
Are hand dryers instead of paper towels a good idea for public restrooms?
How is pollution related to a country’s GDP?
Why do developing nations find it difficult to start recycling programs?
What are some political challenges that the environment faces globally?
Is American politics affecting the environment?
What are the benefits of choosing a vegan diet?
Do developed countries have the responsibility of helping third-world nations become more sustainable?
Are your current local environmental policies effective enough?
Should high schools and colleges ban the use of plastic?
How does food consumption affect the environment?
Why is Sweden so different from other countries when it comes to protecting the environment?
What are some technological advancements that help us reduce waste?
Why have we failed to reduce food wastage across the globe?
Is better recycling technology the solution to reducing waste in landfills?
How are plastic straws a threat to the environment of the Earth?
Can increased taxes items meant for single-use reduce waste from piling up in landfills?
Why do some states succeed in banning plastic bags while others fail?
How is overpopulation related to pollution?
In the next fifty years, how will the population impact the environment?
Do we have enough natural resources to support the exploding population across the globe?
What role does the government play in improving food resources?

Easy Sustainability Topics For Research

These sustainability topics for research are commonly used by students because they are practical in terms of research and the availability of data.

Is banning plastic a suitable solution to reduce environmental pollution?
What are the options available to make cutlery sustainable?
Should metros ban the use of plastic straws completely?
Why is our ecosystem so dependent on sea life?
Does any carbon footprint come from farm animals and how?
Why is it the need of the hour to prevent waste from being dumped into oceans?
How does getting fair-trade certificates to benefit university campuses?
Why should we increase the consumption of local produce?
How does supporting local businesses improve sustainability?
Should food donation programs be imposed in cities?
How has the emergence of farmers’ markets helped various communities?
Is buffet-style dining beneficial or harmful for efforts toward sustainability?
How can taxes be used to improve sustainability efforts?
How can leftovers from hotels and restaurants be disposed of sustainably?
What are the various benefits of food programs for the community?
Explain the process of growing vegan produce and its effect on the environment
How have sustainability efforts been affected globally as a result of the pandemic?
Is zero-waste living ideal?
What does sustainability mean in the 21st century?
How is supporting local food markets sustainable?
How does the greenhouse effect change as a result of less meat consumption?
Does eating red meat improve the quality of the air?
What are some benefits of switching to a plant-based diet?
Should school cafeterias increase the options for vegan food?
How do slaughterhouses impact the environment negatively?
What if all restaurants switched to buffet-style meals?

Best Sustainability Topics For Research Papers

Looking for sustainability topics for research that can ensure better grades. Here is a list of some of the best topics on sustainability that you can choose from.

Give a detailed plan for a sustainable restaurant.
Why do large cities struggle with reducing air pollution?
Should cities make it mandatory to reduce food waste in community gardens?
What are some of the primary benefits of improving public transportation systems?
Should rainwater harvesting become compulsory for large buildings?
Has technology benefited or harmed the environment?
Will reducing our dependence on technology help sustain the environment?
Are smaller classrooms beneficial or harmful to the environment?
How has the pandemic affected the environment positively?
What is the negative impact of the pandemic on the environment?
Can reducing the number of school days improve sustainability efforts?
How do school campuses contribute to environmental deterioration? How can it be reduced?
What are the best ways to teach children about non-renewable and renewable resources?
What are some immediate changes that you can make in your life to become more sustainable?
Create a detailed sustainability plan for your family
Can maintaining a constant temperature at home reduce energy costs? Support your argument with data.
Chart out a detailed zero-waste living plan that can be implemented easily.
What is the relationship between community health and the environment?
Case studies of the impact of pollution on the health of people.
How do developing nations improve their access to water resources?
Can government policies truly help the environment?
Will creating better public spaces like riverbeds and parks improve sustainability?
What are some measures that can be used to improve access to clean water in developing nations?
What are some measures taken by Denmark to reduce food waste?
Discuss Sweden’s efforts to use waste for heating and energy.
How can we reduce pollution and improve the quality of care at the same time?

Environmental Research Topics for College Students

These sustainability topics for research papers are perfect for college students as they are most relevant and extremely interesting as well.

What are the best ways to deal with medical waste?
How has awareness about recycling improved sustainability efforts?
Is global warming false as some world leaders claim?
What are some ecological challenges that the US will face in the coming decades?
Will green universities improve students’ mental health?
How can growing your food help in improving sustainability?
What are the best measures that communities can take to prevent waste
What are the best ways to use landscaping sustainably?
Is gardening around the house a good way of improving the quality of air amidst growing pollution rates?
Should fireworks be banned?
How can we raise cattle sustainably?
How is the fashion industry impacting the environment?
Discuss the importance of sustainable fashion in the world we live in.
How can community gardens help cities become more sustainable?
How can you measure the success of a smart city by the well-being of its inhabitants?
What are smart cities? Can you provide examples?
How can digitization be used to pursue a sustainability agenda?
What are the various ecological dimensions of sustainability?
Should governments provide more grants for research on sustainability?
Discuss some sustainable measures that we can learn from our ancestors.
What is the impact of America’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement?
What are the Paris Climate Agreement and its important terms?
How can changing policies from a macro level to a micro level improve sustainability efforts?
What are the best measures taken by the UN to improve sustainability?
Greta Thunberg: The poster child of climate change or a publicity stunt?
The most impactful environmentalists over the last decade.

Sustainability Topics for All Levels

These sustainability research paper topics are perfect for you whether you are writing a high school paper or a college paper. They are versatile and easy to compile.

How will our carbon footprint impact the generations to come?
What are the different types of sustainability?
What does sustainability education mean?
How can your school or college improve its regulations to make the campus sustainable?
Are there any sustainability programs that have been implemented in your school or college?
Do solar panels on buildings help reduce energy costs?
What are the benefits of including sustainability education in the school curriculum?
How does non-plastic waste in the oceans impact the environment?
How to prevent the greenhouse effect from agriculture?
Should governments support and invest in more solar technologies?
How can a home become energy efficient with solar energy?
How does an improved ventilation system improve sustainability?
What are the measures taken by modern schools and colleges in improving sustainability?
How can modern classrooms make use of natural light for better sustainability?
How can we save on energy by setting systems off when they are still idle.
What are the various benefits of changing classroom timings to optimize the use of natural lighting?
Is it possible to apply a game theory to manage challenges with sustainability?
What is the difference between biocapacity and carbon footprint in various regions?
What are some challenges faced by companies when it comes to conserving energy?
Can you name some environmental groups that have been most effective in cleaning up plastic from the oceans and how they have achieved their goals?
What are some positive effects of reducing computer screen brightness?
Name some countries with the poorest environmental laws?
A case study of the most sustainable nations in the world.
The effect of plastic on the environment in detail.
What are some effective measures of saving water?
A study of oil spills and their effect on marine life over the last decade.

Environmental Project Topics

Have an environmental sustainability topic due? This sustainability topics list is all you need to present projects that grab the attention of your audience.

What are some barriers and drivers of sustainability research?
How does on-campus sustainable research help increase practical solutions for environmental sustainability?
Provide a business case to install new lighting systems
What are some lighting systems available today that are most sustainable?
Needs luxury led to an unsustainable environment?
What are the benefits of using electric cars?
The most impactful evidence to prove that global warming is real.
Do political agendas suppress sustainability efforts? How?
What are some of the major threats of climate change?
The importance of teaching children about sustainability
What are some of the most common examples of wasteful living that you see around you?
The relationship between undernutrition, obesity, and climate change.
Why has ice loss across the Himalayas become rapid over the last 40 years?
How quickly are we depleting natural resources?
How does the medical industry contribute to global warming?
What is the Lancet Countdown on climate change and health?
Does climate change impact the health of newborn children?
How has industrialization helped and harmed the environment?
The use of heating and cooling systems and their impact on the environment.
The harmful impact of the film industry on the environment
Celebrities who have successfully endorsed anti-climate change campaigns
KFC and the Amazon Rainforests: What was the chaos about?
How has the fast-food industry impacted the environment?
The contribution of the aviation industry toward global warming
What is a carbon tax and how can it help improve efforts towards sustainability?
Write about the development of waste streams over the last few decades.
Are newspapers viable in times of sustainability?
The importance of enhancing biodiversity to reduce environmental deterioration.
Can improving safety regulations for cyclists contribute to sustainability?
What are some of the most sustainable multi-national companies? Discuss their strategies.

Sustainable Development Topics

Development is a very important topic for research paper writing for students of environmental studies. Here are some sustainability topics for research related to development to help you get started.

How has economic globalization impacted the environment?
What is the relationship between autocracy, democracy, wars, and natural resources?
How does a finite environmental capacity impact political and economic development?
Changing human behavior and the use of natural resources.
Adaptation and mitigation policies to solve environmental issues.
The difference between the approach of a political institution and market-based requirements towards sustainability.
How has the automobile industry taken steps towards sustainability?
What are some effects of Green Technology on the economy?
What is the advantage of using Green Technology in organizations?
A detailed study of the Global Environmental Sustainability Framework to technology.
How can digitization be used to improve awareness about sustainability?
Is it practical to implement Green technology in developing countries? What are the best measures that can be taken?
How can construction become sustainable?
How can Green Thinking help improve sustainability?
What is the perception of green energy and sustainability in multinational organizations?
What are some sustainability policies that have helped developing nations?
The impact of digitization on sustainability
What are the current trends in Green Technology?
Should builders receive incentives for constructing sustainable structures?
Incentives for sustainability in industrial settings.
The most effective option for disposing of electronic waste.
How advancement in medical technology has impacted the environment
The relationship between motorsports and the environment.
Do large public events like concerts and sports events impact sustainability?
The impact of styrofoam cups on the environment.
Advancements in technology have contributed to sustainability.
Scientists who have contributed effectively towards sustainability.

If you still need assistance with thesis writing , our experts can help you find a fast and cost-effective solution. Get in touch with us now for expert writers and top-notch papers that will surely improve your grades.

Sustainable Development Research Paper Topics

In this comprehensive guide to sustainable development research paper topics , we explore the diverse and critical issues related to sustainable development within the field of environmental science. Sustainable development encompasses the principles of economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection, aiming to create a better future for present and future generations. This abstract provides an overview of the page’s content, including a comprehensive list of sustainable development research paper topics, expert advice on topic selection, and guidance on writing a sustainable development research paper. Additionally, we introduce our writing services, offering students the opportunity to order custom research papers on any sustainable development topic. Through this page, students can gain valuable insights and resources to contribute to the advancement of sustainable development research.

100 Sustainable Development Research Paper Topics

The field of sustainable development encompasses a wide range of interconnected topics that address the environmental, social, and economic challenges facing our world today. To assist you in your research endeavors, we have compiled a comprehensive list of sustainable development research paper topics. These topics span across various disciplines and offer opportunities for in-depth exploration and critical analysis. By examining these topics, you can contribute to the understanding of sustainable development and develop innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.

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Environmental Conservation and Biodiversity

The role of protected areas in biodiversity conservation
Sustainable management of forests and its impact on biodiversity
Conservation strategies for endangered species
Implications of climate change on biodiversity loss
Sustainable practices for marine and coastal conservation
Wildlife trafficking and its impact on biodiversity
The role of indigenous knowledge in biodiversity conservation
Strategies for promoting urban biodiversity
Ecosystem restoration and its benefits for biodiversity
Evaluating the effectiveness of conservation policies and programs

Sustainable Energy

Transitioning to renewable energy sources: Challenges and opportunities
Energy efficiency and its impact on sustainable development
The role of nuclear energy in achieving a sustainable energy future
Sustainable transportation systems: Innovations and policies
Community-based renewable energy projects
Energy access and sustainability in developing countries
The social, economic, and environmental impacts of fossil fuel extraction
Advancements in energy storage technologies
Smart grid systems and their contribution to sustainable energy
The role of government policies in promoting renewable energy adoption

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Assessing the effectiveness of international climate agreements
Climate change and its impacts on vulnerable communities
The role of renewable energy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon pricing mechanisms: Prospects and challenges
Urban planning for climate change resilience
Climate change adaptation strategies in agricultural systems
Impacts of climate change on water resources and management
Sustainable cities and climate change mitigation
The role of education in fostering climate change awareness and action
Assessing the socio-economic implications of climate change policies

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

Organic farming practices and their impact on food security
Sustainable agriculture and water management
The role of genetic engineering in sustainable crop production
Agroecology and its potential for sustainable food systems
Urban agriculture and its contribution to food security
Sustainable fisheries management and conservation
Climate-smart agriculture: Strategies for resilience and adaptation
The socio-economic impacts of agricultural subsidies
Sustainable food supply chains and distribution systems
Indigenous knowledge and sustainable agricultural practices

Social Equity and Justice

Social sustainability and inclusive development
Gender equality and empowerment in sustainable development
Indigenous rights and sustainable resource management
Ensuring access to education and healthcare in marginalized communities
Social impact assessment in development projects
Strategies for poverty alleviation and economic empowerment
Promoting social entrepreneurship for sustainable development
Environmental justice and equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens
The role of social movements in advancing sustainable development goals
Promoting inclusive governance for sustainable development

Sustainable Urban Development

Urbanization and its impact on the environment and society
Sustainable urban planning and design
Green infrastructure and urban resilience
Transportation and mobility in sustainable cities
Affordable housing and sustainable urban development
Smart cities: Technologies and applications for sustainability
Urban governance and stakeholder engagement in sustainable development
Sustainable waste management in urban areas
Strategies for promoting sustainable consumption and production in cities
Sustainable tourism and its role in urban development

Water Resources Management

Integrated water resources management for sustainable development
Water scarcity and its implications for sustainable development
Water governance and institutional frameworks
Sustainable approaches to water supply and sanitation
Water pollution and its impacts on ecosystems and human health
Water-related conflicts and their resolution
Climate change and water resources management
Water footprint analysis and sustainable consumption
Indigenous water rights and traditional knowledge in water management
Innovative technologies for water conservation and management

Sustainable Business Practices

Corporate social responsibility and sustainable business models
Circular economy and its application in business practices
Sustainable supply chain management
Green marketing and consumer behavior
Sustainable finance and investment strategies
Corporate sustainability reporting and transparency
Ethical considerations in business decision-making
Sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation
Environmental management systems and certifications
Stakeholder engagement and sustainability in business

Environmental Policy and Governance

International environmental agreements and their effectiveness
Policy instruments for environmental conservation and sustainability
Environmental impact assessment and decision-making processes
Public participation in environmental decision-making
Climate change policy and governance mechanisms
Environmental justice and policy implications
Regulatory frameworks for natural resource management
The role of non-governmental organizations in environmental advocacy
Policy integration for sustainable development
Evaluation and monitoring of environmental policies and programs

Sustainable Development and Technology

Technological innovations for sustainable development
The role of information and communication technology in achieving sustainability goals
Green building design and sustainable architecture
Renewable energy technologies and their integration into the grid
The impact of digitalization on sustainable development
Sustainable transportation technologies and solutions
Internet of Things (IoT) and its applications for sustainability
Blockchain technology and its potential for sustainable supply chains
Big data analytics for environmental monitoring and resource management
Technological solutions for waste management and recycling

The field of sustainable development is vast and dynamic, presenting numerous avenues for research and inquiry. The comprehensive list of sustainable development research paper topics provided here offers a starting point for your exploration and provides inspiration for further investigation. As you embark on your research journey, remember to select a topic that aligns with your interests, leverage interdisciplinary perspectives, and consider the practical implications of your findings. Through your research, you have the potential to make a significant impact on the field of sustainable development and contribute to the ongoing efforts of creating a more sustainable and equitable world.

Sustainable Development Research Guide

As students of environmental science, you have a unique opportunity to explore the multifaceted field of sustainable development and contribute to the ongoing efforts in creating a more sustainable future. This page serves as a valuable resource for your research endeavors, providing a curated list of sustainable development research paper topics, expert advice on topic selection, and practical guidance on writing a sustainable development research paper.

Sustainable development is a critical concept in today’s world, addressing the complex interplay between economic growth, social well-being, and environmental stewardship. By studying sustainable development, you delve into topics such as renewable energy, climate change adaptation, sustainable urban planning, natural resource management, and much more. Through your research, you can analyze current challenges, propose innovative solutions, and contribute to the global sustainability discourse.

This page aims to inspire and guide you in exploring the vast landscape of sustainable development research. We understand that choosing a research paper topic can be a daunting task, considering the multitude of issues and perspectives within this field. That’s why we have compiled a comprehensive list of sustainable development research paper topics, categorized into relevant themes, to help you find an area of interest that aligns with your academic goals and personal passion.

Furthermore, we provide expert advice on how to choose the most suitable sustainable development research paper topic. We will discuss the importance of selecting a focused and researchable topic, considering the scope and depth of available literature, and ensuring its relevance to current sustainability challenges. Additionally, we will guide you through the process of writing a well-structured research paper, emphasizing the critical elements such as literature review, methodology, data analysis, and conclusion.

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Choosing a Sustainable Development Topic

Choosing the right research topic is a critical step in the process of writing a sustainable development research paper. As a student of environmental science, you have the opportunity to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this field and address pressing issues related to sustainability. However, with a multitude of potential topics to explore, it can be challenging to narrow down your focus and select a research question that is both relevant and impactful. In this section, we provide expert advice and practical tips to guide you in choosing sustainable development research paper topics. By following these suggestions, you can identify an area of interest, align your research with current trends, and contribute to the global discourse on sustainable development.

Identify your area of interest : Start by exploring the different aspects of sustainable development that interest you the most. This could be environmental conservation, social equity, renewable energy, or any other specific area within sustainable development.
Consider current issues and trends : Stay updated on the latest developments in sustainable development. Look for emerging challenges, debates, and innovative solutions that can form the basis of your research topic.
Conduct a literature review : Dive into existing research and literature on sustainable development to understand the gaps in knowledge and identify potential research areas that need further exploration.
Narrow down your focus : Once you have identified a broad topic, narrow it down to a specific research question or problem that you want to address. This will help you focus your research and provide a clear direction for your paper.
Look for interdisciplinary connections : Sustainable development is a multidisciplinary field, so consider how you can integrate different disciplines and perspectives into your research. This can lead to unique insights and innovative approaches.
Consider local and global contexts : Assess the relevance of your research topic in both local and global contexts. How does it relate to the specific challenges and needs of a particular region or community? How does it contribute to the broader sustainable development agenda?
Consult with experts and peers : Engage in discussions with professors, researchers, and peers who specialize in sustainable development. Seek their advice and gather different perspectives to refine your research topic.
Conduct a feasibility assessment : Evaluate the feasibility of your research topic in terms of data availability, resources required, and potential challenges you may encounter. Ensure that you have access to relevant data and research materials to support your study.
Consider the practical implications : Reflect on the practical implications of your research topic. How can your findings contribute to policy development, community initiatives, or practical solutions in the field of sustainable development?
Align with your personal and career goals : Choose a research topic that aligns with your personal interests and long-term career aspirations. This will not only motivate you throughout the research process but also enhance your expertise in your chosen area of sustainable development.

Selecting a research topic in sustainable development requires careful consideration, as it sets the foundation for your entire research endeavor. By following the expert advice provided in this section, you can navigate through the vast landscape of sustainable development research paper topics and choose one that resonates with your passion, aligns with current issues, and has the potential for meaningful contribution. Remember to conduct thorough literature reviews, consult with experts, and ensure the feasibility and practical implications of your chosen topic. With these insights and guidelines, you are well-equipped to embark on your research journey and make a valuable contribution to the field of sustainable development. Embrace the opportunity to explore, learn, and create positive change through your research efforts.

How to Write a Sustainable Development Research Paper

Writing a sustainable development research paper requires careful planning, critical thinking, and effective execution. As a student of environmental science, you have the opportunity to delve into complex issues, propose innovative solutions, and contribute to the field of sustainability. However, the process of crafting a research paper can be daunting, especially if you are new to the academic research landscape. In this section, we provide you with valuable tips and guidance on how to write a sustainable development research paper. By following these steps, you can streamline your writing process, effectively communicate your ideas, and produce a high-quality research paper that contributes to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable development.

Choose a focused research topic : In the field of sustainable development, there are numerous areas to explore. Select a specific aspect that interests you and aligns with your academic goals. Consider topics such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, urban planning, climate change adaptation, or corporate social responsibility.
Conduct thorough background research : Before diving into your research paper, take the time to familiarize yourself with existing literature, theories, and concepts related to your chosen topic. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of the subject and identify any research gaps or areas for further exploration.
Formulate a clear research question : A well-defined research question is the backbone of any research paper. It should be concise, specific, and address a gap or challenge in sustainable development. Consider the broader implications and potential practical applications of your research question.
Develop a strong thesis statement : Craft a clear and compelling thesis statement that encapsulates the main argument or purpose of your research paper. Your thesis statement should reflect the significance of your research and provide a roadmap for the reader to understand the direction of your paper.
Gather reliable and relevant data : As you embark on your research journey, it is crucial to collect data from credible sources. Rely on academic journals, reputable organizations, government reports, and scientific databases to obtain reliable and relevant information. Ensure that the data you gather aligns with your research question and supports your arguments.
Analyze and interpret data : Once you have gathered your data, apply appropriate research methods and analytical tools to analyze and interpret the information. Utilize statistical analysis, qualitative research techniques, or a combination of both to derive meaningful insights from your data.
Provide evidence-based arguments : In a research paper, it is essential to support your claims and arguments with accurate and up-to-date evidence. Cite scholarly articles, empirical studies, case studies, or real-world examples to reinforce your ideas. This will add credibility to your research and strengthen your overall argument.
Structure your paper effectively : Organize your research paper in a logical and coherent manner. Start with an introduction that provides context, states your research question, and highlights the significance of your study. Follow with a comprehensive literature review that synthesizes existing knowledge and identifies gaps. Then, outline your research methodology, present your findings, engage in a critical discussion, and conclude with a summary of your main points and potential areas for future research.
Write in a clear and concise manner : Effective communication is crucial in academic writing. Use clear and concise language to convey your ideas effectively. Break down complex concepts into understandable terms and ensure that your writing is accessible to a wide audience. Avoid unnecessary jargon or technical language that may alienate readers.
Revise and edit your paper : Once you have completed the initial draft of your research paper, take the time to review and revise it thoroughly. Pay attention to the clarity of your arguments, the coherence of your ideas, and the overall flow of your writing. Edit for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors. Seek feedback from peers, professors, or academic mentors to gain different perspectives and improve the quality of your work.

Writing a sustainable development research paper is an exciting and rewarding endeavor that allows you to explore pressing environmental issues and propose meaningful solutions. By implementing the tips and strategies outlined in this section, you can enhance the quality and impact of your research paper. Remember to choose a clear and focused research question, conduct thorough literature reviews, use reliable and up-to-date sources, organize your ideas effectively, and critically analyze your findings. Additionally, seek feedback from peers and experts to refine your work and ensure its credibility. With dedication, perseverance, and the right approach, you can create a research paper that not only showcases your understanding of sustainable development but also contributes to the broader discourse on creating a sustainable future for our planet.

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sustainable development dissertation topics

Sustainable UCL

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Sustainability Dissertation Topics

Students can use the campus to test solutions to real-world sustainability challenges as part of a Living Lab project. Here are some sustainability dissertation ideas.

19 November 2022

Dissertation topics

Living lab for a positive climate .

Our goal is to have net zero-arbon buildings by 2024 and to be a net zero-carbon institution by 2030.

Research topics include:

Review UCL buildings for climate change resilience and implement adaptation measures
Research into enhancing video conferencing for large events
Sourcing renewable energy providers for gas to enable a zero-carbon heating supply
Research on academic travel reduction initiatives
Research on UCL’s new Climate Accountability Scheme (combining a carbon price with behavioural nudges) to incentivise climate action by departments.
Reducing the climate impact of UCL’s hospitality

Living lab on reducing waste and consumption

Our goal is to reduce waste per person by 20% and to become a single-use plastic-free campus by 2024.

How to eliminate plastic across UCL
How to increase recycling at UCL (campaign)
Labels and messaging on food

Consumers are becoming more aware of sustainability considerations in food production and consumption. In addition to the traditional dietary and nutritional requirements, consumers are seeking labels and certifications to know where and how food is made, what it is made from, its carbon footprint and sustainability credentials. UCL would like to investigate what information we should supply, how this should be displayed, communicated and marketed, to allow our communities to make informed decisions and promote a flexitarian diet. It is anticipated this would require the following activity:

Developing questionnaires for opinions on carbon footprinting, carbon pricing and other sustainability information they want to know about, to inform point-of-sale purchasing choices in outlets.
Comparing marketing of food as “vegan” or “plant-based” and the impacts on consumer’s perceptions.
Investigating the notion of “label fatigue “where consumers are overwhelmed by information on packaging, and the impact of the project on this.
Baselining data on food choices.
Developing a labelling system for packaging/ refectory display boards – using data and survey responses.
Trialling the labelling system.
Surveying responses.
Recording food choices and comparing to baseline, to identify behavioural change.

Living lab on biodiversity

Our aim is to create 10,0000m2 of extra biodiverse space by 2024 – equivalent to more than one and a half football pitches as well as increasing health and wellbeing for the Bloomsbury community.

Research topics include:

Research on different types of green infrastructure e.g. green walls, roofs, community gardens, and where UCL could implement them.
Research on biodiversity and wildlife across UCL’s estate.
Research on air pollution levels across UCL’s estate

Dissertation guide

Step 1: choose your topic.

Take a look at the sustainability research topics list to see if they interest you.
If you require data on energy, travel, procurement, UCL’s sustainability engagement programmes or water please email Sustainable UCL to request this.
If you have alternative research topic ideas for a sustainable living lab dissertation or project please contact us.

Step 2: Discuss with your department

Speak with your supervisor or someone in your department about undertaking a living lab dissertation and refining your topic.
They can advise you on scales, time scales and marking criteria.

Step 3: Contact Sustainable UCL

Arrange a meeting with Sustainable UCL to ensure your project can make a valuable contribution to UCL.
Sustainable UCL can provide data and put you in touch with relevant operational staff such as catering members and plumbers to test out your ideas.
You can invite your supervisor to this meeting, but it is not a requirement.

Step 4: Undertake your dissertation

Sustainable UCL can meet a further 2 times or 2 hours maximum to support your dissertation or project.

Step 5: Sharing data and findings

One of the principles of the Living Lab Project is to make available any additional data you generate for others to build on, so the work can keep ‘living’
Once your dissertation is completed, we require a concise 2-3 page briefing or presentation on your findings so that we can implement your ideas onto campus or future students and staff can build on your research. Living Lab projects usually spark plenty of ideas for further research, including aspects you were not able to cover during the project.

Sustainable Education

St Andrews Research Repository

St Andrews Research Repository
Earth & Environmental Sciences and Geography & Sustainable Development (Schools of)
School of Geography & Sustainable Development

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We are a leading centre for scholarship in geography and sustainable development, and aim to integrate the study of the earth system with its landscapes, peoples, places and environments. We teach and research across the breadth of the geography discipline, also bringing together expertise in the social and natural sciences to examine and develop the principles and practice of sustainable development. The school was ranked first in the UK by the Guardian University Guide for 2016.

For more information please visit the School of Geography & Sustainable Development home page.

This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

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Dissertation (Sustainable Development) (930N1)

60 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Summer teaching

For your dissertation, you select a specific research topic within the field of innovation, sustainability and international development.

You carry out an in-depth review of the literature relevant to your chosen topic, critically assess the relevant theories and empirical evidence, identify and employ the appropriate methodology - involving the use of primary or secondary data source - and produce an original piece of research.

As part of this module, you address your research question and draw relevant policy implications. In doing this, you develop the skills to write up and present your results and interpretations.

Contact hours and workload

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2022/23. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

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Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

Impact of the Sustainable Development Goals on the academic research agenda. A scientometric analysis

Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Supervision, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Research Institute on Policies for Social Transformation, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Córdoba, Spain

Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Public Policy Observatory, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile

* E-mail: [email protected]

Affiliation Department of Finance and Accounting, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Córdoba, Spain

Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Social Matters Research Group, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Córdoba, Spain

Antonio Sianes,
Alejandro Vega-Muñoz,
Pilar Tirado-Valencia,
Antonio Ariza-Montes

Published: March 17, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409
Peer Review
Reader Comments

Today, global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and sustainability are at the core of the academic debate. This centrality has only increased since the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose scope is to shift the world on to a path of resilience focused on promoting sustainable development. The main purpose of this paper is to develop a critical yet comprehensive scientometric analysis of the global academic production on the SDGs, from its approval in 2015 to 2020, conducted using Web of Science (WoS) database. Despite it being a relatively short period of time, scholars have published more than five thousand research papers in the matter, mainly in the fields of green and sustainable sciences. The attained results show how prolific authors and schools of knowledge are emerging, as key topics such as climate change, health and the burden diseases, or the global governance of these issues. However, deeper analyses also show how research gaps exist, persist and, in some cases, are widening. Greater understanding of this body of research is needed, to further strengthen evidence-based policies able to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the SDGs.

Citation: Sianes A, Vega-Muñoz A, Tirado-Valencia P, Ariza-Montes A (2022) Impact of the Sustainable Development Goals on the academic research agenda. A scientometric analysis. PLoS ONE 17(3): e0265409. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409

Editor: Stefano Ghinoi, University of Greenwich, UNITED KINGDOM

Received: September 10, 2021; Accepted: March 1, 2022; Published: March 17, 2022

Copyright: © 2022 Sianes et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Data Availability: All relevant data are within the manuscript and its Supporting Information files.

Funding: The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

1. Introduction

1.1. from the millennium agenda to the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals (sdgs).

To track the origins of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we must recall the Millennium Agenda, which was the first global plan focused on fighting poverty and its more extreme consequences [ 1 ]. Approved in 2000, its guiding principle was that northern countries should contribute to the development of southern states via Official Development Assistance (ODA) flows. The commitment was to reach 0.7% of donors’ gross domestic product [ 2 ] to reduce poverty by half by 2015. The relative failure to reach this goal and the consolidation of a discourse of segregation between northern and southern countries [ 3 ] opened the door to strong criticism of the Millennium Agenda. Therefore, as 2015 approached, there were widespread calls for a profound reformulation of the system [ 4 ].

The world in 2015 was very different from that in the early 2000s. Globalization had reached every corner of the world, generating development convergence between countries but increasing inequalities within countries [ 5 , 6 ]. Increasing interest in the environmental crisis and other global challenges, such as the relocation of work and migration flows, consolidated a new approach to development and the need of a more encompassed agenda [ 7 ]. This new agenda was conceived after an integrating process that involved representatives from governments, cooperation agencies, nongovernmental organisations, global business, and academia. The willingness of the 2030 Agenda to ‘leave no one behind’ relies on this unprecedented global commitment by the international community [ 8 ].

As a result of this process, in 2015, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the document “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” [ 9 ], later known as the 2030 Agenda. This new global agenda is an all-comprising strategy that seeks to inform and orient public policies and private interventions in an extensive range of fields, from climate change to smart cities and from labour markets to birth mortality, among many others.

The declared scope of the Agenda is to shift the world on to a path of resilience focused on promoting sustainable development. To do so, the 2030 Agenda operates under the guidance of five principles, formally known as the ‘5 Ps’: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships [ 10 ]. With these pivotal concepts in mind, the Agenda has established a total of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 specific targets to be pursued in a 15-year period, which reflects the scale and profound ambition of this new Agenda.

The SDGs do not only address what rich countries should do for the poor but rather what all countries should do together for the global well-being of this and future generations [ 4 ]. Thus, the SDGs cover a much broader range of issues than their predecessors, the Millennium Development Goals [ 11 ], and are intended to be universal on the guidance towards a new paradigm of sustainable development that the international community has been demanding since the 1992 Earth Summit [ 7 , 12 , 13 ].

Despite this potential, some criticise their vagueness, weakness, and unambitious character. Fukuda-Parr [ 14 ], see weaknesses on the simplicity of the SDGs, which can lead to a very narrow conception that reduces the integral concept of development. The issue of measurement is also problematic; for some researchers, the quantification of objectives not only reduces their complexity, but leads to them being carried out without considering the interdependencies between the objectives [ 12 , 13 ]. Other authors have identified difficulties associated with specifying some of the less visible, intangible aspects of their qualitative nature such as inclusive development and green growth [ 14 , 15 ]. Finally, Stafford-Smith et al. [ 16 ] state that their successful implementation also requires paying greater attention to the links across sectors, across societal actors and between and among low-, medium-, and high-income countries.

Despite these criticisms, the SDGs have undoubtedly become the framework for what the Brundtland report defined as our common future. Unlike conventional development agendas that focus on a restricted set of dimensions, the SDGs provide a holistic and multidimensional view of development [ 17 ]. In this line, Le Blanc [ 12 ] concludes that the SDGs constitute a system with a global perspective; because they consider the synergies and trade-offs between the different issues involved in sustainable development, and favour comprehensive thinking and policies.

1.2. Towards a categorization of the SDGs

There is an underlying lack of unanimity in the interpretation of the SDGs, which has given rise to alternative approaches that allow categorizing the issues involved in their achievement without losing sight of the integral vision of sustainable development [ 15 , 18 – 23 ]. However, such categorization of the SDGs makes it possible to approach them in a more holistic and integrated way, focusing on the issues that underlie sustainable development and on trying to elucidate their connections.

Among the many systematization proposals, and following the contributions of Hajer et al. [ 19 ], four connected perspectives can strengthen the universal relevance of the SDGs: a) ‘planetary boundaries’ that emphasize the urgency of addressing environmental concerns and calling on governments to take responsibility for global public goods; b) ‘The safe and just operating space’ to highlight the interconnectedness of social and environmental issues and their consequences for the redistribution of wealth and human well-being; c) ‘The energetic society’ that avoids the plundering of energy resources; and d) ‘green competition’ to stimulate innovation and new business practices that limit the consumption of resources.

Planetary boundaries demand international policies that coordinate efforts to avoid overexploitation of the planet [ 24 ]. Issues such as land degradation, deforestation, biodiversity loss and natural resource overexploitation exacerbate poverty and deepen inequalities [ 21 , 25 – 27 ]. These problems are further compounded by the increasing impacts of climate change with clear ramifications for natural systems and societies around the globe [ 21 , 28 ].

A safe and just operating space implies social inclusivity that ensures equity principles for sharing opportunities for development [ 15 , 29 ]. Furthermore, it requires providing equitable access to effective and high-quality preventive and curative care that reduces global health inequalities [ 30 , 31 ] and promotes human well-being. Studies such as that of Kruk et al. [ 32 ] analyse the reforms needed in health systems to reduce mortality and the systemic changes necessary for high-quality care.

An energetic society demands global, regional and local production and consumption patterns as demands for energy and natural resources continue to increase, providing challenges and opportunities for poverty reduction, economic development, sustainability and social cohesion [ 21 ].

Finally, green competition establishes limits to the consumption of resources, engaging both consumers and companies [ 22 ] and redefining the relationship between firms and their suppliers in the supply chain [ 33 ]. These limits must also be introduced into life in cities, fostering a new urban agenda [ 34 , 35 ]. Poor access to opportunities and services offered by urban centres (a function of distance, transport infrastructure and spatial distribution) is a major barrier to improved livelihoods and overall development [ 36 ].

The diversification of development issues has opened the door to a wide range of new realities that must be studied under the guiding principles of the SDGs, which involve scholars from all disciplines. As Saric et al. [ 37 ] claimed, a shift in academic research is needed to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The identification of critical pathways to success based on sound research is needed to inform a whole new set of policies and interventions aimed at rendering the SDGs both possible and feasible [ 38 ].

1.3. The relevance and impact of the SDGs on academic research

In the barely five years since their approval, the SDGs have proven the ability to mobilize the scientific community and offer an opportunity for researchers to bring interdisciplinary knowledge to facilitate the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda [ 21 ]. The holistic vision of development considered in the SDGs has impacted very diverse fields of knowledge, such as land degradation processes [ 25 , 26 ], health [ 39 ], energy [ 40 ] and tourism [ 41 ], as well as a priori further disciplines such as earth observation [ 42 ] and neurosurgery [ 43 ]. However, more importantly, the inevitable interdependencies, conflicts and linkages between the different SDGs have also emerged in the analyses, highlighting ideas such as the need for systemic thinking that considers the spatial and temporal connectivity of the SDGs, which calls for multidisciplinary knowledge. According to Le Blanc [ 12 ], the identification of the systemic links between the objectives can be a valuable undertaking for the scientific community in the coming years and sustainable development.

Following this line, several scientific studies have tried to model the relationships between the SDGs in an attempt to clarify the synergies between the objectives, demonstrating their holistic nature [ 12 , 17 , 20 , 44 , 45 ]. This knowledge of interdependencies can bring out difficulties and risks, or conversely the drivers, in the implementation of the SDGs, which will facilitate their achievement [ 22 ]. In addition, it will allow proposing more transformative strategies to implement the SDG agenda, since it favours an overall vision that is opposed to the false illusion that global problems can be approached in isolation [ 19 ].

The lack of prioritisation of the SDGs has been one of the issues raised regarding their weakness, which should also be addressed by academics. For example, Gupta and Vegelin [ 15 ] analyse the dangers of inclusive development prioritising economic issues, relegating social or ecological inclusivity to the background, or the relational aspects of inclusivity that guarantee the existence of laws, policies and global rules that favour equal opportunities. Holden et al. [ 46 ] suggest that this prioritisation should be established according to three moral criteria: the satisfaction of human needs, social equity and respect for environmental limits. These principles must be based on ethical values that, according to Burford et al. [ 47 ], constitute the missing pillar of sustainability. In this way, the ethical imperatives of the SDGs and the values implicit in the discourses on sustainable development open up new possibilities for transdisciplinary research in the social sciences [ 46 , 47 ].

Research on SDG indicators has also been relevant in the academic world, as they offer an opportunity to replace conventional progress metrics such as gross domestic product (GDP) with other metrics more consistent with the current paradigm of development and social welfare that takes into account such aspects as gender equality, urban resilience and governance [ 20 , 48 ].

The study of the role of certain development agents, including companies, universities or supranational organisations, also opens up new areas of investigation for researchers. Some studies have shown the enthusiastic acceptance of the SDGs by companies [ 22 , 49 ]. For Bebbington and Unerman [ 50 ], the study of the role of organisations in achieving the SDGs should be centred around three issues: challenging definitions of entity boundaries to understand their full impacts, introducing new conceptual frameworks for analysis of the context within which organisations operate and re-examining the conceptual basis of justice, responsibility and accountability. On the other hand, the academic community has recognized that knowledge and education are two basic pillars for the transition towards sustainable development, so it may also be relevant to study the responsibility of higher education in achieving the SDGs [ 47 , 50 ]. Institutional sustainability and governance processes are issues that should be addressed in greater depth through research [ 47 ].

Finally, some authors have highlighted the role of information technologies (ICT) in achieving the SDGs [ 23 ] and their role in addressing inequality or vulnerability to processes such as financial exclusion [ 51 ], which opens up new avenues for research.

Despite this huge impact of the SDGs on academic research, to the best of our knowledge, an overall analysis of such an impact to understand its profoundness and capillarity is missing in the literature. To date, reviews have focused on the implementation of specific SDGs [ 52 – 61 ], on specific topics and collectives [ 62 – 70 ], on traditional fields of knowledge, now reconsidered in light of the SDGs [ 71 – 73 ] and on contributions from specific regions or countries [ 74 , 75 ]. By relying on scientometric techniques and data mining analyses, this paper collects and analyses the more than 5,000 papers published on the SDGs to pursue this challenging goal and fill this knowledge gap.

This article aims to provide a critical review of the scientific research on SDGs, a concept that has emerged based on multiple streams of thinking and has begun to be consolidated as of 2015. As such, global references on this topic are identified and highlighted to manage pre-existing knowledge to understand relationships among researchers and with SDG dimensions to enhance the presently dispersed understanding of this subject and its areas of further development. A scientometric meta-analysis of publications on SDGs is conducted to achieve this objective. Mainstream journals from the Web of Science (WoS) are used to identify current topics, the most involved journals, the most prolific authors, and the thematic areas around which the current academic SDG debate revolves.

Once Section 1 has revised on the related literature to accomplish the main objective, Section 2 presents the research methodology. Section 3 presents the main results obtained, and Section 4 critically discusses these results. The conclusion and the main limitations of the study are presented in Section 5.

2. Materials and methods

In methodological terms, this research applies scientometrics as a meta-analytical means to study the evolution of documented scientific knowledge on the Sustainable Development Goals [ 76 – 81 ], taking as a secondary source of information academic contributions (i.e. articles, reviews, editorials, etc.) indexed in the Web of Science (WoS). To ensure that only peer-reviewed contributions authored by individual researchers are retrieved and that such publications have a worldwide prestige assessment, all of them should be published on journals indexed in the Journal Citation Report (JCR), either as part of the Sciences Citation Index Expanded or the Social Sciences Citation Index [ 82 – 84 ].

Following the recommendations of previous studies [ 85 ], it was decided to apply the next search vector from 2015 to 2020 to achieve the research objectives TS = (Sustainable NEAR/0 Development NEAR/0 Goals), which allows the extraction of data with 67 fields for each article registered in WoS.

As the first step, to give meaning to subsequent analyses, we tested the presence of exponential growth in the production of documented knowledge that allows a continuous renewal of knowledge [ 76 , 86 ].

As a second action, given the recent nature of the subject studied, it is of interest to map the playing field [ 87 ] using VOSviewer software version 1.6.16 [ 88 ], to know which topics are most addressed in the matter of SDGs. This analysis seeks an approach, both through the concentration of Keyword Plus® [ 89 ] and by analysing the references used as input in the production of knowledge, which can be treated as cocitations, coupling-citations and cross-citations [ 90 ], using the h-index, in citation terms, as discriminant criteria in the selection of articles [ 91 – 93 ]. This methodology will allow us to establish production, impact and relationship metrics [ 80 , 85 , 87 , 94 , 95 ].

Finally, it is of interest to explore the possible concentrations that may arise. Using Lotka’s Law, we estimated the possible prolific authors and their areas of work in SDGs, and using Bradford’s Law, we conducted a search of a possible adjustment to a geometric series of the concentration zones of journals and therefore a potential nucleus where a profuse discussion on SDGs is taking place [ 96 – 100 ].

3.1. Configuration of the academic production on SDGs

The results present a total of 5,281 articles for a period of six years (2015–2020) in 1,135 journals, with over 60% of these documents published in the last two years. The total of articles is distributed among authors affiliated with 7,418 organisations from 181 countries/regions, giving thematic coverage to 183 categories of the Journal Citation Report-Web of Science (JCR-WoS). Table 1 shows the distribution among the top ten JCR-WoS categories, highlighting the prevalence of journals indexed in green and environmental sciences and, thus, in the Science Index-Expanded.

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3.2. Existence of research critical mass

Fig 1 shows the regression model for the period 2015–2020, the last year with complete records consolidated in the Web of Science. The results obtained show significant growth in the number of studies on SDGs, with an R 2 adjustment greater than 96%. The exponential nature of the model shows that a ‘critical mass’ is consolidating around the research on this topic, as proposed by the Law of Exponential Growth of Science over Time [ 76 ], which in some way gives meaning to this research and to obtaining derived results.

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3.3. Establishment of concentrations

In accordance with Lotka’s Law, 22,336 authors were identified of the 5,281 articles under study. From this author set, 136 (≈sqrt (22,336)) are considered prolific authors with a contribution to nine or more works. However, a second restriction, even more demanding, is to identify those prolific authors who are also prolific in contemporary terms. Although SDG studies are recent, the growth production rates are extremely high. As previously shown, for the period 2015–2020, 64% of the publications are concentrated between 2019–2020. Based on this second restriction, for 3,400 articles of the 5,281 articles published in 2019 and 2020, and a total of 15,120 authors, only eight prolific authors manage to sustain a publication number that equals or exceeds nine articles. These authors are listed and characterized in Table 2 .

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The analysis shown in Table 2 highlights the University of Washington’s participation in health issues with Murray and Hay (coauthors of eight articles in the period 2019–2020), who are also important in the area of health for the prolific authors Yaya and Bhutta. The environmental SDGs mark a strong presence with Abhilash, Leal-Filho and Kalin. The affiliation of Abhilsash (Banaras Hindu University) is novel, as it is not part of the classic world core in knowledge production that is largely concentrated in the United States and Europe. It is worth noting that other prolific authors belong to nonmainstream knowledge production world areas, such as Russia or Pakistan. Professor Alola also deserves mention; not only is he the only contemporary prolific author producing in the area of economics, but he is also producing knowledge in Turkey.

In the same way, at the journal level, the potential establishment of concentration areas and determination of a deep discussion nucleus are analysed using Bradford’s law.

With a percentage error of 0.6%, between the total journal number and the total journal number estimated by the Bradford series, the database shows a core of 18 journals (2%) where one in three articles published are concentrated (see Table 3 ).

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Regarding the number of contributions by journal, Sustainability has the largest number of studies on SDGs, in which 689 (13%) of the 5,281 articles studied are concentrated. The Journal of Cleaner Production, indexed to WoS categories related to Environmental SDGs, is the second most prominent journal, with 2.7% participation of the articles (147). Both journals are followed by the multidisciplinary journal Plos One, with 2.2% of the total dataset. In terms of impact factor, the 60 points of the health journal The Lancet are superlative in the whole, which in the other cases ranges between 2.000 and 7.246. As shown in Table 4 , we have developed a “Prominence ranking” by weighting article production by impact factor. This metric shows The Lancet, with only 40 articles on SDGs, as the most relevant journal, followed by Sustainability, which becomes relevant due to the high number of publications (689) despite an impact factor of 2.576. These journals are followed by the Journal of Cleaner Production with 147 articles and an impact factor of 7.246.

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3.4. Thematic coverage

Concerning the thematic coverage, Fig 2A and 2B show a diversity of 7,003 Keyword Plus® (KWP), consistently connected to a total of 7,141 KWP assigned by Clarivate as metadata to the set of 5,281 articles studied, which presents a strong concentration in a small number of terms (red colour in the heat map generated with VOSviewer version 1.6.16).

a) Keywords Plus® heatmap and b) heat map zoom to highlight the highest concentration words, data source WoS, 2020.

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Based on this result, a concentration sphere with 85 KWP (= sqrt (7,141)) is established according to Zipf’s Law, which is presented in 50 or more articles out of the total of 5,281. Moreover, a central concentration sphere of 9 KWPs (= sqrt (85)) can be found, with keywords present in a range of 178 to 346 articles out of a total of 5,281. These nine pivotal keywords are all connected in terms of co-occurrence (associated by Clarivate two or more to the same article) and within papers with an average number of citations in WoS that vary from 9.27 to 16.69, as shown in Table 5 . The nine most prominent key words in relation to the study of the SDGs are health, climate change, management, impact, challenges, governance, systems, policy and framework. These terms already suggest some of the themes around which the debate and research in this area revolves.

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The prominence of these keywords is obtained by combining the level of occurrence and average citations (see Table 5 ): on the one hand, the occurrence or number of articles with which the KWP is associated (e.g., Management, 346) and, on the other hand, the average citations presented by the articles associated with these words (e.g., Framework. 9.27). The final score (prominence) mixes both concepts, given the product of the occurrences and the average citations of each KWP in proportion to the mean values (e.g., (330 * 16.69)/(246 * 11.96) = 1.9).

3.5. Relations within the academic contributions

The coupling-citation analysis using VOSviewer identifies the 5,281 articles under study, of which only those found in the h-index as a whole have been considered (the h-index in the database is 81, as there are 81 articles cited 81 or more times). The bibliographic coupling analysis found consistent connections in only 73 of these articles, gathered in seven clusters. Such clusters and unconnected articles are represented in Fig 3 .

Data source WoS. 2020.

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In simple terms, discrimination belonging to one cluster or another depends on the total link number that an article has with the other 80 articles based on the use of the common references. Table 6 specifies the articles belonging to the same publication cluster in relation to Fig 3 .

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Bibliographic coupling analysis can also be used to link the seven clusters that use common references with the field document title (TI), publication name (SO), Keyword Plus-KWP (ID), and research areas (SC). This allows the identification of the main topics of each cluster. As shown in Table 7 , cluster 1 (red) concerns environmental and public affairs; cluster 2 (green), health; cluster 3 (blue), economics; cluster 4 (yellow), health–the burden of disease; cluster 5 (violet), economics–Kuznets curve; cluster 6 (light blue), energy; and cluster 7 (orange), soil—land.

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3.6. Outstanding contributions in the field

The cocitation analysis identified a total of 232,081 references cited by the 5,281 articles under study. It suggests taking as references to review those that present 44 or more occurrences in the database (232,081/5,281). This method results in 34 articles that have been used as main inputs for the scientific production under analysis, cited between 44 and 504 times. A result worth highlighting is that one in three of these documents corresponds to reports from international organisations, such as the United Nations (UN), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), World Bank Group (WB) or World Health Organization (WHO). However, it is also possible to identify 21 peer-reviewed scientific contributions. These papers are identified in detail in Table 8 .

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The cocitation analysis yields the degree of relationship of these 21 most cited research articles. It is how such references have been used simultaneously in the same article. Fig 4 displays this information (to help readers, it has also been included in Table 8 , centrality in 21 column).

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According to the relationship level in the most cited article’s selection, the graph ( Fig 3 ) has been clustered in three colours: cluster 1 in red colour groups the highest articles proportion (9) published between 2013 and 2017 in 7 journals. These journals present an impact factor (IF) quite heterogeneous, with values ranging from 2.576 (Sustainability) to 60.39 (Lancet) and indexed in one or more of the following WoS categories: Environmental Sciences (4 journals), Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (4), Environmental Studies (2), Development Studies (1), Medicine, General & Internal (1), Multidisciplinary Sciences (1) and Regional & Urban Planning (1). Three of these articles are cited 130–150 times in the 5,281-article dataset and, at the same time, show a connection centrality of 95–100% with the other 20 articles in the graph, implying a high level of cocitation. The other two clusters group six articles each. The articles of cluster 2 (green colour) are included in a widespread WoS category set: Environmental Sciences (3 journals), Geosciences, Multidisciplinary (2), Ecology (1), Economics (1), Energy & Fuels (1), Environmental Studies (1), Green & Sustainable Science & Technology (1), Materials Science, Multidisciplinary (1), Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences (1) and Multidisciplinary Sciences (1). The research of Nilsson [ 101 ] was used as a reference in 176 of the 5,281 articles under study, showing a centrality of 100%. This great connection level is also featured in another less cited article [ 17 ] published in Earth’s Future. Finally, cluster 3 (blue) highlights six articles concentrated in three highly cited journals in the WoS categories: Medicine, General & Internal (Lancet) and Multidisciplinary Sciences (Nature and Science), whose IFs range from 41.9 to 60.4. In general, they are articles less connected (cocited) to the set of 21, with centralities of 30–90%. Two of these articles were referenced 140 times or more, although one was published in 2009. Thus, cluster 3 concentrates the references mainly in journals on environmental issues with scientific-technological orientation, as well as classic and high-impact WoS journals (The Lancet, Nature and Science). It is worth noting that some of these top journals may not be listed in Table 4 as they are not included in the Bradford’s nucleus, due to their comparatively low number of contributions published.

Finally, continuing with the thematic study, a cross-citation analysis was developed. Considering only the 81 articles that are part of the h-index of the total set of 5,821 articles under study, the citations that are presented among this elite article set are explored using VosViewer. The cross-citation analysis detects existing relationships between 37 of these 81 articles. Once the directionality of the citations has been analysed, a directed temporal graph is generated using Pajek 64 version 5.09, which is presented in Fig 5 .

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Fig 5 shows how these 37 highly cited articles are related to each other (the number after the name is the publication year), considering that some of these articles are cited as references in other articles in this set. The relationships between the articles in Fig 5 are complex and should be understood under a temporal sequence logic in the citation between two articles. However, some trends can be highlighted.

On the one hand, some contributions stand out for their centrality. Lim et al. [ 102 ] is connected with eight of the 37 articles (21.6%) on citing relationships, as is Fullman et al. [ 27 ], which relates to seven of the 37 articles (18.9%). Both authors researched health issues and are also coauthors of nine articles of the dataset under study. On the other hand, according to the SDG segmentation proposed, Hajer et al. [ 19 ] and Le Blanc [ 12 ] are recognized as seminal articles in social SDGs, since they contribute to the production of other subsequent articles in the set of 37. On the other hand, in health matters, seminal articles are Norheim et al. [ 103 ] and You et al. [ 104 ], two articles published in The Lancet whose citations also contribute to the production of the set introduced as Fig 5 .

4. Discussion

The main purpose of this paper was to develop a critical and comprehensive scientometric analysis of the global academic literature on the SDGs from 2015 to 2020, conducted using the WoS database. The attained results have made it possible to comprehend and communicate to the scientific community the current state of the debate on the SDGs, thus offering insights for future lines of research.

To achieve the objectives, the present study analysed a broad spectrum of 5,281 articles published in 1,135 WoS journals. A first aspect that is striking is the great diversity of topics addressed in these studies, which reflects the multidimensionality of the SDGs. Despite this, more than half of the articles are concentrated in two JCR-WoS categories (Environmental Sciences and Green Sustainable Science Technology), a percentage that exceeds 80% if the categories Environmental Studies and Public Environmental Occupational Health are added. Thus, on the one hand, the size of the body of literature and the broad spectrum of topics more than covers the four perspectives of analysis that are relevant in research on the SDGs, according to Hajer et al. [ 19 ]: planetary boundaries, the safe and just operating space, the energetic society and, last, green competition. However, on the other hand, results also highlight a strong focus on the environmental aspects of the SDGs, which undoubtedly concentrate the most contributions.

The Sustainable Development Goals constitute an area of research that has experienced exponential scientific growth, a tendency already suggested by previous studies [ 81 , 105 ], thus complying with the fundamental principles of Price’s law [ 76 ], which suggests the need for this exponential growth to manifest a continuous renewal of knowledge on the subject under study. The results of this study highlight a significant increase in the number of articles published in the last two years, given that six out of ten articles were published in 2019 or 2020. This tendency confirms how the SDGs continue to arouse great interest in the scientific community and that the debate on the interpretation of sustainable development is still open and very present in academia.

The variety of knowledge areas from which science can approach the SDGs demonstrates the different avenues that exist to address different research questions and their multidimensional nature, as anticipated by Pradhan et al. [ 17 ], a dispersion not far from the traditional fields of knowledge or the conventional dimensions of sustainability. Investigating the reasons for this dispersion in academic research on the SDGs may be a topic of great interest, as anticipated by Burford et al. [ 47 ] and Le Blanc [ 12 ], since understanding the phenomenon of development can only be achieved if the main challenges, both current and future, can be viewed holistically and comprehensively. Along these lines, Imaz and Eizagirre [ 106 ] state that the complexity of the study of the SDGs is undoubtedly marked by their aspiration for universality, by their broad scope encompassing the three basic pillars of sustainable development (economic development, environmental sustainability and social inclusion) and by their desire for integration, motivated by the complexity of the challenges and by the countless interlinkages and interdependencies.

This natural multidimensionality of the SDGs calls for strong cooperation and collaboration between researchers, universities, and countries. In this sense, the scientometric analysis provides good news, as more than a hundred prolific authors (defined as those authors who have published nine or more articles on this topic) have been identified, although these are reduced to eight in contemporary terms (2019 or 2020). This select group of eight authors who lead research and publishing on the SDGs (sometimes with dual or triple affiliations) produce knowledge for universities and research centres both in the global north and the global south: Canada, the U.S., the UK, Germany, Pakistan, Turkey, India, Benin, Russia and Cyprus. The protagonist role played by research institutes in countries in the north has already been acknowledged by previous studies [ 81 , 105 ]. However, the emergence of top scholars producing academic knowledge from developing countries is a more recent tendency, which underscores the pertinence of this analysis.

A closer look at the academic and research curricula of these authors leads to the conclusion that the study of the SDGs does not constitute a final field of research at present. These researchers come from very heterogeneous disciplines, so their approach to the SDGs is also multidisciplinary. To illustrate it with an example, the most cited article by Professor Abhilash of Banaras Hindu University (the most published contemporary prolific author along with Christopher Murray of the University of Washington), with 363 WoS citations in February 2021 alone, is on the use and application of pesticides in India.

In more concrete terms, following Wu et al.’s [ 23 ] classification as a frame of reference, the eight most prolific contemporary authors approach the SDG research problem from two main domains, one of an environmental nature (Abhilash, Leal-Filho, Alola and Kalin) and the other related to health (Murray, Yaya, Bhutta, and Hay). The most common journals where these authors publish on environmental issues are the Journal of Cleaner Production, Higher Education, Water and Science of the Total Environment. Health researchers, on the other hand, tend to publish mainly in the journals of the BMC group, The Lancet and Nature.

This wide diversity of academic fora can be clarified with the application of Bradford’s laws, which identified a core of 18 journals that bring together the debates and academic discussions about the SDGs. It is worth noting that the 18 journals that form the core are distributed in 16 different thematic areas or WoS categories: Development Studies; Ecology; Economics; Education & Educational Research; Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Studies; Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism; International Relations; Medicine, General & Internal; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Regional & Urban Planning; and Water Resources. On the one hand, this wide dispersion in terms of areas of knowledge suggests that research on the SDGs can be studied from different approaches and disciplines, which opens up a wide range of possibilities for researchers from different branches of scientific knowledge, as well as an opportunity for multidisciplinary collaborations. On the other hand, this heterogeneity might also hinder the communication and dissemination of learning from one field to another. The cross-citation analysis provided in Fig 5 suggests this possibility, as seminal works are related to thematic disciplines more than to the seminal contributions identified in Table 8 .

In this sense, it is interesting to analyse the top-cited articles in the database, as they provide a clear picture of the field of knowledge. One-third of these contributions are provided by international institutions, such as the United Nations Development Program or the World Bank, which provide analyses of a normative nature. This prevalence reflects some weaknesses in the academic basis of the analysis of the SDGs as a whole from a scientific approach, an idea reinforced when the most cited papers are analysed. In fact, only six papers have reached more than 100 citations by contributions included in the database [ 4 , 12 , 24 , 29 , 101 , 107 ]. Not only were these papers largely published before the approval of the SDGs themselves, but half of them are editorial material, inviting contributions but are not evidence-based research papers. Highlighting the nature of the most cited contributions does not diminish their value but does speak to the normative approach that underlies the analysis of the SDGs when addressed not individually but as an overall field of research.

Regarding topics and themes of interest, the scientometric analysis carried out in this research identified a strong concentration around a small number of terms, as represented in a heat map ( Fig 2A and 2B ). All these topics constitute a potential source of inspiration for future research on the subject.

Through an analysis of the main keywords, it can be seen that the studies focused on the traditional areas of health and climate change. However, these keywords also provide new elements for discussion, as they uncover some other areas of study that have been highlighted by the literature. First, the appearance of the term Management as one of the main keywords reveals the importance that researchers give to the role of business in achieving the SDGs, as already suggested by Scheyvens et al. [ 49 ] and Spangenber [ 22 ]. Second, the need to address new governance processes and to seek global solutions, as suggested by authors such as Sachs [ 4 ], underscore the keywords Governance, Policy and Framework, all aspects deemed crucial for the achievement of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda [ 108 ]. Finally, other keywords such as Impact, Challenges or Systems are a clear example of the complexity and interdependencies that exist in research on the SDGs, considered an essential aspect by Griggs et al. [ 13 ] or Le Blanc [ 12 ]. The attained results highlight some of the connections between different domains of sustainable development by identifying categories and themes that are highly related in the groupings that emerge from the bibliographic coupling analysis.

In general terms, the holistic vision of development embodied by the SDGs has drawn the attention of very different disciplines, fields and areas of scientific knowledge. However, seven major areas of research have emerged: environmental and public affairs, health, economics, health-burden of disease, economics-Kuznets curve, energy and soil-land. These areas are not far removed from the current paradigm of sustainable development, where poverty or inequality are problems that are not exclusive to developing countries [ 5 , 6 ]. Thus, emerging issues that mainly affect first world countries, including urban planning, the impact of activities such as hospitality, sport or tourism, or education for development, are starting to stand out with increasing intensity, which continues to open new avenues for future research.

In short, the results of the scientometric analysis have provided a systematized overview of the research conducted in relation to the SDGs since the approval of the 2030 Agenda. Among other things, the critical analysis has identified the main trends with respect to the number of publications, the most relevant journals, the most prolific authors, institutions and countries, and the collaborative networks between authors and the research areas at the epicentre of the debate on the SDGs. As Olawumi and Chan [ 105 ] already acknowledged, the power research networks applied to the study of the SDGs offer valuable insights and in-depth understandings not only of key scholars and institutions but also about the state of research fields, emerging trends and salient topics.

Consequently, the results of this work contribute to the systematic analysis of scientific research on the SDGs, which can be of great interest for decision-making at the governmental level (e.g., which research to fund and which not to fund), at the corporate level and at the level of research centres, both public and private. Furthermore, the scientometric analysis carried out may provide clues for academics regarding future lines of research and topics of interest where the debate on the SDGs is currently situated.

5. Conclusions, limitations and future research lines

As could not be otherwise, all research in the field of social sciences has a series of limitations that must be clearly and transparently explained. The two most relevant in this study are the following.

First, although the study of the SDGs is a recent object of research, the rate of publication is growing exponentially, such that scientific knowledge is renewed practically in its entirety every two years. The only articles that escape this scientometric obsolescence are those with a high number of citations (h-index). This circumstance generates a temporal limitation in terms of the conclusions obtained in the present investigation, conclusions that should be revised periodically until the growth of publications stabilizes by adopting a logistic form, as recommended by Sun and Lin [ 109 ].

Second, the articles used as the basis for this research were restricted to those published in the JCR-WoS. This decision was made for two main reasons. On the one hand, the limitation was to eliminate potential distortions that could occur as a result of the constant growth of journals that are incorporated annually into other databases, such as ESCI-WoS (Emerging Sources Citation Index). On the other hand, it is impossible to compare impact indices if integrating other databases such as Scopus.

We are aware of these limitations, which for developing a more selective analysis imply assuming the cost of less coverage in exchange.

Regarding future lines of research, the analysis highlights how the study of the SDGs is failing to balance their economic, social and sustainability components, as it still maintains an overall focus on environmental studies.

This suggests the urgency of increasing studies on social SDGs, key topics on the 2030 Agenda including equity (SDGs 4, 5 and 10), social development (SDGs 11 and 16) and governance (SDG 17). These topics are part of the public discourse and currently a source of social pressure in many latitudes, but they are still research areas that are necessary to deepen.

Economic sustainability studies are more present, but highly concentrated, in health economics, as previously acknowledged by Meschede [ 81 ]. Academic research on the SDGs against poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2) has not achieved such a prominent place as health. Even less so, the economics of technological development (SDGs 8 and 9), which are recognized as crucial for economic development.

Finally, the environmental SDGs do not achieve a balance among themselves either. Academic research has prioritized action for climate (SDG 13) and industrial and human consumption, mainly water (SDG 6) and energy (SDG 7). New research should be developed in the area of land (SDG 15), life under the sea (SDG 14) and sustainable production (SDG 12).

Supporting information

S1 dataset..

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265409.s001

View Article
PubMed/NCBI
Google Scholar
9. Nations United. Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York, NY, USA: United Nations; 2015.

PhD in Sustainable Development

Ph.d. curriculum.

The distinctive and innovative nature of this program requires a core set of courses that provide an interdisciplinary grounding. Each of these courses is taught at the level expected of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in the affiliated departments. The course structure is designed to provide students with PhD-level training in economics and a natural science field, complemented by integrative courses in sustainable development designed specifically for this program and courses in social sciences. The course structure combines flexibility to pursue an individual field of study with broad-based skills and knowledge development. The core curriculum consists of around ten core courses, listed below. Students must also complete two social science electives and a coherent sequence of four natural science courses for a minimum total of 60 credits and should maintain an overall B+ average with no lower than a B- in any of the core classes. In addition to course work, students participate in integrative seminars Sustainable Development Seminar I ( SDEV U9200 ) / Sustainable Development Seminar II ( SDEV U9201 ) throughout the first three years of the program, and complete the MA thesis and take an Orals Exam (leading to the MPhil Degree), in addition to presenting and defending a Ph.D. dissertation.

Due to the unique interdisciplinary content of the program, students entering with a master’s degree earned at Columbia University or elsewhere are still required to complete all MA and MPhil course requirements and examinations.

Advanced Standing for previously held degrees may occasionally be accorded at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) after successfully completing the first year.

Students must select an advisory committee before the end of the fourth semester, ideally earlier, with the help and approval of the DGS and Program Faculty. The committee ideally comprises 2 to 3 members, one of whom is the academic advisor and must be a member of the SIPA faculty. The remaining advisors can be from other Columbia University schools and departments or from other universities. An advisor from a different university cannot be the main academic advisor. The advisory committee should include faculty whose expertise covers both the social and natural sciences.

For the first year or (at most) two academic years, the DGS will have the role of academic advisor. The role of the advisor is to guide and monitor research progress, including reporting to GSAS on the progress of the student, sitting in on Orals and Defense committees, and other associated duties .

Service Requirements

In addition to completing the requirements for the MA and the MPhil, students have to fulfill a teaching and research requirement. This entails six semesters of work as a teaching fellow (TF) or a graduate research fellow (GRF), as assigned by the director of the program. Students typically serve as TFs in SIPA master-level courses as well as a few undergraduate courses. Students who secure external fellowship funding may reduce this requirement with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. Still, in all cases, every student must TA at least two semesters .

The Ph.D. in sustainable development is designed and supported as a five-year program. It is recognized that some students may need to extend their studies for all or part of a sixth year. While this can be accommodated administratively, students cannot assume that funds will be available to support the sixth year of study, and they are urged to make efforts to secure fellowship support or obtain funds through their advisors or from outside sources. Sixth-year extensions may be granted as exceptions and must not be assumed.

John Mutter , Professor Director of the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development [email protected]

Tomara Aldrich Program Coordinator for the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development [email protected]

John Mutter , Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and of International and Public Affairs; Director of the PhD in Sustainable Development program

Douglas Almond , Professor of International and Public Affairs and of Economics

Scott Barrett , Lenfest-Earth Institute Professor of Natural Resource Economics

Geoffrey Heal , Donald C. Waite III Professor of Social Enterprise in the Faculty of Business and Professor of International and Public Affairs

Cristian Pop-Eleches , Professor of International and Public Affairs

Jeffrey Sachs , Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development; Professor of Health Policy and Management; Director of the Earth Institute

Wolfram Schlenker , Professor of International and Public Affairs

Jeffrey Shrader , Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs

Rodrigo Soares , Lemann Professor of Brazilian Public Policy and International and Public Affairs

Joseph Stiglitz , University Professor

Requirements for the MA Degree

Sustainable development courses.

These courses are designed and taught specifically for the PhD students in Sustainable Development, although they may be open to students from other programs.

Core Economics Courses

All core economics courses are taught in the Economics Department and are drawn from the Economics PhD syllabus. More information about these courses can be found from the Economics department Web site .

Social Science Courses

Students must take at least 3 social science courses.

Natural Sciences Courses

Students must also take 3 natural science electives drawn from the following departments:

Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B)

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES)

Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) at the Mailman School of Public Health

Department of Earth and Environmental Engineerin g (DEEE) at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)

The master’s thesis should be completed by May 1 in the fourth semester and should address a problem in sustainable development using data and methodologies from the four natural science courses completed in the first two years of the program. The thesis consists of an article (around 30 pages long), which would be publishable in an appropriately refereed academic journal reflecting the disciplinary orientation of the project. Students should submit the Masters paper to their research advisor(s) with a copy to the DGS. The advisor later meets with the student and submits a pass/fail grade to the Assistant DGS for processing. For titles of MA thesis projects previously completed by students in the program please see here .

Requirements for the MPhil Degree

Completion of the MA requirements with a minimum of 60 credits and a B+ average.

Complete 4 out of 6 semesters of service requirements (Teaching Assistant, TA or Research Assistant, RA appointments) . Students with outside funding need to complete a minimum of 2 TA appointments.

Fulfillment of research tools requirement

Core courses in quantitative methods (Introduction to Econometrics I and II, and a third Quantitative Analysis course).

Either a two-course sequence in GIS or other analytic modeling systems or a proficiency examination in a non-English language, as selected with the approval of the academic adviser.

Submission of a final draft of the dissertation prospectus , approved by the adviser, to the MPhil Examining Committee three weeks prior to the MPhil examinations. The prospectus should:

be a single, 10-page document

be distinct from the Master’s thesis though it can build on similar research

cover the methods and objective of the research project

Two-hour long oral exam designed to examine the candidates’ formal learning and their capability to do independent research, including the presentation of a dissertation prospectus/proposal. The examination committee will consist of three faculty members, normally from the Sustainable Development core faculty, and will be chaired by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), who will lead the discussion of the prospectus. Examinations are conducted as follows:

5 minutes: the candidate will give a formal presentation of the prospectus

30 minutes: all members of the examining committee, led by the DGS, will ask questions.

30 minutes: examination of proficiency in fields most relevant to the proposed research, from within the following subjects:

Natural Science

Sustainable Development

(Optional) An elective field, such as study of a region

Each component will be graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. If the average grade is 3.5 or above the student receives a clear pass. If the average grade is below 3.0 the student will be required to leave the program by the end of the current semester. If the average grade is between 3.0 and 3.5 or if any individual grade is below 3.0 the committee require the student to take further courses, revise their prospectus, or provide a revised research paper.

Requirements for the PhD Degree

Phd dissertation.

The PhD dissertation will be on a social science topic in sustainable development. The social science research will be informed by an understanding of physical and natural science constraints and opportunities influencing economic development.

Students with a regional area of interest to their dissertation may wish to do research abroad, so as to conduct field studies, use archives, improve language skills, or confer with local experts. In order that students may complete the PhD program without delay, it is preferred that they make use of summers to conduct such research. Students who feel they require a longer period of field research or language training need the approval of their advisor, and of the DGS. Students may not receive extended residence credit for study or research away from Columbia before the completion of all course work requirements and comprehensive examinations.

PhD Defense

Complete the GSAS deposit application and pay the $85 processing fee;

Submit the required Survey of Earned Doctorates online;

Upload and submit a PDF copy of your dissertation;

Obtain a signed Approval Card that certifies you have made all required revisions and that the dissertation has been approved for deposit by your sponsor and by your doctoral program.

Open defenses (optional)

If both the candidate for a defense and the Advisory Committee choose to have an “open” defense, the following will apply:

The candidate will have a maximum of 40 minutes to present major conclusions of the thesis research, with at least half of the time devoted to a description of new findings or insights in the field discussed that directly resulted from research by the student.

Any member of the University community or other interested parties can attend the first part of the thesis defense.

Questions following the initial presentation are permitted for a maximum of 10 minutes.

Following the oral presentation by the candidate and the brief period for general questions, the defense committee will question the candidate in closed session for a period of up to 90 minutes.

If either the candidate or the Advisory Committee prefer, the procedures for “closed defense” (i.e., 20-minute oral presentation followed by questions from the defense committee in closed session for a period of up to 90 minutes) will be followed.

Candidates must consult with their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies about scheduling the defense. Every Ph.D. student must submit the Intent to Distribute and Defend form directly to GSAS.

The final examination will not be scheduled until the Director of Graduate Studies has recommended the dissertation for defense. A five-person examining committee will be appointed by the department and must be approved by GSAS. The DGS will then officially invite the examiners.

The Application for Defense must be completed by the Candidate and the Director of Graduate Studies and submitted by the program’s office to the GSAS Dissertation office.

Members of the PhD examining committee must be given a minimum of three weeks to read the thesis, so the defense may comfortably be scheduled after submission of the thesis to the Advisory Committee. Before being recommended for defense, the candidate must submit to his/her Advisory Committee draft copies of the thesis, including figures, plates and tables and obtain the Advisory Committee’s written approval of the draft. (Written approval by the Advisory Committee indicates only that the thesis as it stands or with revisions suggested by them is in good enough form to justify scheduling the defense.)

After the Advisory Committee has given its preliminary approval in writing, and the candidate has made any revisions suggested by them, he/she must distribute copies of the dissertation to the external readers. Instructions for the correct form for preparing the manuscript and information on publication options may be obtained via the Graduate School’s website ( http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/ )

The candidate must see that outstanding fees or loans to the University are paid and make sure that he/she has fulfilled all other Departmental requirements. When these requirements have been fulfilled and the examining committee has been appointed by the DGS, the candidate is notified of the examination date, usually about two weeks in advance.

After passing the final examination, the candidate must see to any minor revisions and their approval by the examining committee before final deposit. If major revisions were called for (a defense-vote of “incomplete”), these must be made and submitted within a stated period (usually no fewer than three months and no longer than one year from the date of the defense) to the supervising committee, whose approval will have to be certified in writing before the candidate can be recorded as having passed the final examination. From the time of the “pass” vote, the student has a maximum of six months to deposit the thesis. There are four steps to completing your deposit -- the steps can be done in any order, but your deposit is only considered complete when all four steps are done.

Doctorate degrees are awarded in October, February, and May. Check the academic calendar for specific deadlines for the final deposit of the dissertation. (You may, however, call yourself “Dr.” as of the day of your deposit, since that date will appear on your official transcript.)

PhD in Sustainable Development Courses

SDEV U6240 Environmental Science for Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: EE, EPD:Sustainable

This course provides a rigorous survey of the key areas of natural science that are critical to understanding sustainable development. The course will provide the theories, methodological techniques and applications associated with each natural science unit presented. The teaching is designed to ensure that students have the natural science basis to properly appreciate the co-dependencies of natural and human systems, which are central to understanding sustainable development. Students will learn the complexities of the interaction between the natural and human environment. After completing the course, students should be able to incorporate scholarly scientific work into their research or policy decisions and be able to use scientific methods of data analysis. This is a modular course that will cover core thematic areas specifically, climate, natural hazards, water management, public health/epidemiology, and ecology/biodiversity. To achieve coherence across lectures this course will emphasize how each topic is critical to studies of sustainable development and place-based case studies in recitation will integrate various topics covered. In the lectures and particularly the recitation sections this course will emphasize key scientific concepts such as uncertainty, experimental versus observational approaches, prediction and predictability, the use of models and other essential methodological aspects

SDEV U9200 Sustainable Development Seminar I. 1.50 Point.

This course is restricted to PhD in Sustainable Development

SDEV U9201 Sustainable Development Seminar II. 1.50 Point.

SDEV U9240 Human Ecology ＆ Sustainable Development. 4.00 Points.

Category: EPD:Sustainable, PhD in Sustainable Development Open to PhD Students Only

This course has two primary objectives: first, to provide a structured way to think about—and conduct research in—the field of sustainable development. Second, to introduce formal models of dynamic, coupled human and environmental systems

SDEV U9245 Environment ＆ Resource Economics. 3.00 Points.

This course aims to introduce you to the basic concepts of environmental economics

SDEV U9248 Collective Action for Global Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: PhD in Sustainable Development Registration restricted to PhD Students

When externalities go uncorrected, and public goods go undersupplied, the reason is not that the market fails; the reason is that governments are unable or unwilling to intervene effectively. The biggest problem is with transnational externalities and regional and global public goods. This is partly because of the scale of these problems, but it is also because the institutional arrangements at this level make effective intervention difficult. There is no World Government. Instead, there are around 200 sovereign states. To support sustainable development globally, states must cooperate, and yet states' self-interests often conflict with their collective interests. This is why all countries agree that collective action must be taken to limit climate change, and yet, though they try and try again, countries seem unable to muster the individual action needed to meet their own collective goal. The aim of this course is to develop an apparatus for understanding international collective action for sustainable development. By an apparatus, I mean a theory, a structured way of looking at and understanding the world. Rather than just present the theory, my aim is to show you why theory is needed, how it has been constructed, and what its strengths and weaknesses are. Basically, in addition to teaching you principles and tools, I want you to come to see how this field has developed, what it has achieved, and where it has fallen short. Throughout the course, we shall also be looking at tests and applications of the theory-empirical and experimental papers in addition to case studies. The course draws from a number of disciplines, especially economics, game theory (analytical and experimental), and international relations-but also international law, philosophy, history, the natural and physical sciences, and engineering. The focus will be on institutions, and the way that they restructure the relations among states to cause states to behave differently-that is, to cause them to undertake collective action. In terms of applications, the course will address not only climate change but also depletion of the ozone layer, trans-boundary air pollution, pollution of the oceans, over-fishing, biodiversity loss, and the emergence and spread of infectious diseases

ECON GR6211 MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS I. 4.00 points .

Prerequisites: the director of graduate studies' permission. Corequisites: ECON G6410. Consumer and producer behavior; general competitive equilibrium, welfare and efficiency, behavior under uncertainty, intertemporal allocation and capital theory, imperfect competition, elements of game theory, problems of information, economies with price rigidities

ECON GR6212 MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS II. 4.00 points .

Prerequisites: the director of graduate studies permission. Corequisites: ECON G6410. Consumer and producer behavior; general competitive equilibrium, welfare and efficiency, behavior under uncertainty, intertemporal allocation and capital theory, imperfect competition, elements of game theory, problems of information, economies with price rigidities

ECON GR6411 INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMETRICS I. 4.00 points .

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies' permission. Introduction to probability theory and statistical inference

ECON GR6412 INTRODUCTN TO ECONOMETRICS II. 4.00 points .

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies permission. Introduction to the general linear model and its use in econometrics, including the consequences of departures from the standard assumptions

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List of suggested topics for thesis

for RESD students

Invia ad un amico

List of suggested topics

Elettra Agliardi

§ Financial Derivatives and climate change

§ Evolutions of institutions and ambiguity in the context of climate change

§ Climate finance

§ Green bonds

§ Facilitating transition: real option valuation for green growth, energy and technology transition.

Thanasis Stengos

§ Empirical approaches to the effect of emissions on growth

§ The Environmental Kuznets Curve: different methods of estimation analysis

§ Empirical investigation of the trade off between clean and conventional energy sources in affecting growth.

Rainer Andergassen

§ Economic growth and sustainability

§ Technological change and innovation incentives: green vs dirty technologies

§ Natural disasters and risk management

Anastasios Xepapadeas

§ Cost Benefit Analysis in General Infrastructure, or Renewable Energy using the EU Guidelines.

§ Climate Change Impacts on Output Growth and/or Total Factor Productivity.

§ Spatial Aspects in the Management of Resources and the Environment.

§ Coalition Formation and International Agreements under Climate Change: The Role of Adaptation, Geoengineering, and Solar Radiation Management.

§ The UN Sustainable Development Goals in the Context of Sustainability Measurement through Genuine Savings or Comprehensive Wealth

Konstantinos Chalvatzis

§ Regulating Energy Innovation: Comparative policies for energy storage and smart grid technologies in EU countries (particular focus on the UK, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece)

§ The EU single energy market and the role of the EU policies in enabling innovation in the energy sector (focus on energy storage and smart-grid technologies)

§ From energy consumer to energy prosumer: transforming the EU citizens

Melania D’Angelosante

§ The EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS)

§ Waste (management) as a resource

§ The environmental liability directive

Roberto Dieci

§ Agent-Based models for resource economics and management

§ Dynamic models in agricultural and resource economics

§ Mathematical modeling of emission markets

§ Mathematical modeling of agricultural price fluctuations

§ Mathematical models of tipping points and application to environmental economics and policy

Luca Fanelli

§ The econometrics of climate change (review level)

§ Shocks identification in applied macroeconomics (intermediate/advanced level)

§ The identification and measurement of oil shocks (advanced level).

Anna Montini

§ The economic cost of environmental impacts on human health

§ Appraisal of total economic value of environmental goods (specific case study to be defined)

§ Cost-benefit analysis of new municipal solid waste collection methods (or other case study to be detailed)

Roberto Patuelli

§ Regional social capital and environmental concerns

§ Balancing transport accessibility and the environment

§ The double dividend hypothesis in developing countries

Corrado Benassi

§ Income polarization and political polarization

§ Income distribution and the working of markets

§ Income distribution and macroeconomic performance

§ Foundations of inequality and poverty measurement; measurement theory

§ Optimal population and sustainability

§ Mixed oligopolies and welfare

§ Ethical foundations of welfare theories

Alessandro Tavoni

§ Media coverage, public awareness and climate tweets (Empirical)

§ Identifying drivers of cooperation in the laboratory (Experimental Economics)

§ Identifying drivers of cooperation in the field (Experimental Economics)

§ Eliciting climate change views with surveys (Empirical)

§ The political economy of international environmental agreements (IEA): the interplay between domenstic politics and IEA in coalition formation models (Game Theory)

§ Evolution of cooperation and common pool resource management (Game Theory)

Maria Gabrielli Baldarelli

§ Eco-justice and gambling: the role of accountability

§ Women, accounting and SDG

§ Social, environmental Accounting and poverty

§ Social , environmental and sustainable Accounting and accountability in Economy of communion entities

Federica Farneti

§ Social Reports/sustainability reports of Italian provincial governments (international organisations): A Longitudinal Analysis. § Insights on non-financial disclosure in major corporations and reflections on SMEs, before and after the directive 95/2014: the path towards greater transparency? § Integrated reporting: Losing legitimacy when reporting talk is not supported by actions. § Social and environmental auditing

* Acknowledging that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international, intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change.

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Introduction
Team Projects
MArch Dissertations
MSc Dissertations
Completed PhD Research Projects
News – Publications
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List of Dissertations

MSc 2010-11

Santiago Cala: Heat_Biological Power: Aerobic digestion as biological heat generation in residential buildings
Marianna Charitonidou: Vernacular vs Contemporary: Sustainable Housing Design in Mykonos
Ruggero Bruno Chialastri: Affordable and Sustainable Housing Design in Italy
Francesco Emanuele Contaldo: Smart Refurbishmen: passive design strategies to improve comfort and energy savings
Efstathios Eleftheriadis: Biology / Architecture : a new contract for sustainable solutions in the tropics
Danai Frantzi-Gounari: Environmental Refurbishment: upgrading the residential stock of Athens
Alexandre Hepner: Amazon_Flows: Sustainable environmental design for the Amazon rainforest
Rita John: The Future of the Mall Culture
Georgia Katsaouni Updating Vernacular: design guidelines for vernacular settlements and buildings of the Cyclades, Greece
Keunjoo Lee Transitional Spaces for residential tall buildings in Seoul, Korea
Patricia Linares Creative Refurbishment of Traditional Housing in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Jennifer Mikus Occupant Behavior: Empoweing occupants to redefine comfort in the American Home
Shreya Nath The 24 Hour Cool Office: Passive Cooling strategies for offices in Bangalore, India
Andrea Ortiz The use of brick in Housing and its environmental performance for three different Climates in Colombia
Prachi Parekh Adaptive Facades: Passive cooling for the warm-humid climate of Mumbai, India
Miryam Rizkallah Design guidelines for traditional and contemporary windows in Lebanon
Bjorn Rosaeg London Rooftops: environmentally sustainable urban renewal and expansion possibilities
Philippe Saleh Cool Balconies: investigating the thermal properties of balconies in Lebanon
Peggy Shih Modern Sacred Environments
Yukari Takagi Passive Apartment Building: passive cooling and dehumidification strategies for high rise apartment buildings in Tokyo, Japan
Anna Tziastoudi Working Environments: environmental design and organisational principles in office buildings in the UK
Katerina Vagianou Passive Cooling Strategies- implementation to existing building stock in the urban context of Athens
Joao Vieira Concrete in Architecture: thermal inertia as passive cooling strategy in working environments in Rio de Janeiro
Helene-Sophie Vlachos Leftovers – exploring the potential environmental benefits of roof and urban void retrofit in Athens
Juliane Wolf A Pavilion of Wax and Salt: how phase-change materials can be used to provide a comfortable shelter
Grega Zrim Double Skin Facades for Office Buildings in Ljubljana : applicability and comfort studies
MArch 2009-11
Suraksha Bhatla Tall Communities: Passive Urban Housing in the Tropics
Orapim Tantipat Multi-storey housing in the tropical city, Bangkok
Jeewon Paek Environmental Performance of Adaptive Building Envelope Design: Urban housing in Seoul, Korea
Celina Escobar Reinterpretation of Residential Courtyard Typology in Seville: Density studies and Environmental Strategies
Pamela Kravetsky Passive Design for Detached Housing in Extreme Climates: Exploration of Double Skin Facades
Constanza Jorquera Achieving thermal comfort with passive means in a detached house central-southern Chile
Xavier Cordero The New American Model: Sustainably Densifying the Sprawling Suburban Landscape
Francisco Ramirez Modular Low Carbon “Strawcrete”: Self-Built Application for a Rural Community in South Central Chile
Amy Leedham Re-humanizing the Hospital: Sustainable Innovations for Healthcare Architecture
Rodrigo Rodrigues Dynamic Roof Structures for Retail Use: A prototype for low energy design in a temperate climate
Pablo Gugel Pushing the Climate Boundaries for Urban Earth-Sheltered Housing in Spain
Didar Ozcelik Underground Leisure Club in Alacati, Turkey
Ruth Dominguez Habitat of pilgrims in Saint James Way_The use of water walls for transient spaces
Fanor Serrano Massive timber construction: an energy efficient urban infill in London.
Hiro ABE: Application of Traditional techniques to Contemporary Japanese housing
Carole ASPESLAGH: Design Guidelines for School Buildings in Belgium and UK
Evgenia BUDANOVA Conversion of Industrial Buildings in Moscow
Aaron BUDD The New Canadian Dream-achieving zero heating and cooling demand in a cold climate
Francisco CASABLANCA: Environmental Assessment of housing in Puerto Rico.
Joanna CONCEICAO: Environmental Retrofits for Residential Buildings in Sao Paulo
Cristina CRESPO: Urban Microclimates of the old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Melpo DANOU: Transformations at the Street Level of Athens
Gabriela TRISTAO FERREIRA: Retrofitting of the traditional architecture of Terceira island in the Azores
Anna GKOUMA: Design Guidelines for Balconies
Alfonso HERNANDEZ: Bermed / Semi Buried Dwellings: their Architectural Potential and Passive Environmental Design Strategies
Kristin HOOGENBOOM: Adaptively Reusing London’s Existing Industrial Fabric – Derelict to Domestic
Shao-Fan (Eric) HSU: Sustainable Urban Renewal – multistorey apartments in Taipei City
Shashank JAIN Passive cooling through Ground Coupling: Application of Earth Air Heat Exchangers in Delhi
Mili KYROPOULOU Multi-storey residential buildings in north Greece: Balancing between daylight and thermal performance through facade strategies
Masoudeh NOORAEI Design Guidelines for Energy Efficient Buildings in Tehran
Joram ORVIETO Mobile and foldable house in Italy
Niken PALUPI Urban Semi-Outdoor Courtyard Cafe in Warm-Humid Climate. Case study Jakarta, Indonesia.
Silvia PICCIONE Refurbishment of 1970’s Apartment Block in Italy
Sameena RAJENDRA Reformation of courtyards in Kuwait
Gemala RINALDI New Guideline for Town house in Jakarta, Indonesia
Liliana RODRIGUEZ Modifying the Urban Microclimate in Outdoor spaces to provide comfort in Monterrey, Mexico
Roshanek SAJADIAN Guidelines for Low Energy Housing in Northern Tehran
Rohin SHER Applicability of PHDC retrofits – case study of a Pol House in Ahmedabad
Roi TZIMIKA Exploring the thermal balance of single family detached houses in Northern Greece
Marco VITALI Potential and Applicability of Mixing Concrete with Straw
Ruofan YAO Passive design for detached house in the Yangtze Delta Region
Anand, I. Contemporising Religious Architecture.
* Cholasuek, Ch. Sustainable Low Income Community in Bangkok.
Conto, O. Learning Environments for Displaced Communities in Colombia.
Espinoza, A. Emergency (Post Disaster) Housing for Cold Climate, Chilean Patagonia.
Pandit, A. Contemporary Indian Housing – Making use of transition spaces as social and climatic mediator.
* Pantazi, K. Urban Metaphors (Potential use of Rooftops in Athens).
Riveros, G. Urban Social Housing in Colombia.
Saranti, K. Architectural Microclimatic Interventions in a Square_Patras Greece.
Stojkovic, M. Dynamic Office Building Façade In Temperate Climate.
Theodorou, A. Accommodating Change: Retrofit of The Domestic Building Stock of London.
Athanasopoulos, G. The Environment of Wineries. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
* Bansal, N. “Corbu” in the Tropics. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design.
Calise, F. Boulder House on the Island of Ischia. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design.
Cameron, E. Direct Coupling: The potential of openness on energy savings. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design.
Choudhary, M. The Potential of Earth Architecture as Low Energy Design. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design.
Chung, Y.H. Thermal Performance of Typical School Buildings (South Korea). MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
Dry, M. Evaluating the retrofitting of an old barrack into a library: the case study of the public library in Corfu. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
Gazi, H. Emerging Learning Environments. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
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* Jain, S. Urban Form for Low Cost High Density H ousing in Delhi. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
* Kafassis, N. Learning from environments beyond the boundaries of comfort. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
Kaicker, Sh. Low Energy, High Intelligence Shopping Experience in North India. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
Limpou, K. Designing Outdoors: Ephemeral & Adaptive Exhibition Shelters in Thessaloniki, Greece. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
Lopez-Rioboo Gil, V. Reuse of Traditional Rural Housing Typologies in Abandoned Villages in Galicia, Spain. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
Lytra, V. Environmental Design & Morphogenesis. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
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Moletto, A. Courtyard Housing Typology in an Urban Dense Area. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
Papacosta, E. Adaptation and Reuse of the Existing Fabric- How to know what a building wants to be. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
Passey, P. Investigating Daylighting in Atria and Adjacent Spaces. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
Pelman, B. PER-FOR-MATION. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
* Sabhanay, R. Bioemulation: Investigation and Application of a Biomimetic Approach to Environmental Design. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
Sarkar, A. Exploring The Concept Of “Passive Zone” In Warmer Climates. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design.
Savla, P. Transitional Spaces for Commercial Buildings in Warm and Humid Climates. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design .
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Hue, J. Design of a Cultural Centre in Madureira, Rio De Janeiro.
Jackson, E.B. (Bedford)2: Rethinking The AA Graduate School-Scheme for a Bioclimatic Live/Work Facility.
Murray, G. Ecological Learning Centre for the Marin Academy, San Rafael, California: Perception of Comfort within Naturally Ventilated Classrooms.
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Sophonudomporn, E. Dynamic Daylighting Responsive: A Design Proposal for an Art Gallery.
Thomas, A. Gone Fishing. Self help development for low income fishing communities in Sri Lanka
Ampatzi, M. Bioclimatic Strategies for Seaside Resorts on Greek Islands.
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Lei, G. Naturally Ventilated Urban Housing in Southern China – A Research Review of Energy Efficient Residential Building Design for Hot Summer Warm Winter Climatic Zone in China. (*)
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Agarwal, K. (MArch 2008). Residential Cluster Development of a Housing Community based on the Traditional Pol Housing.
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MSc 2005-07
Abouzeid, A. (MSc 2006). Sustainable and Informal.
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Fong, F. (MSc 2006). Out of the Box – Reinventing the Industrial Warehouse
Gallardo Gonzalez, M. A. (MSc 2006). A Prototype House for a Sustainable Small scale Development in Baja Sur, Mexico.
Gunasekara, S. (MSc 2007). A “Study” of Wellbeing- designing an energy efficient detached micro workspace.
Kohli, V. (MSc 2006 with Commendation). New St Anthony’s School in the Nilgiri Hills of Southern India.
Lan, Y.T (MSc 2007). A Responsive Skin for Multistorey Buildings in Taiwan.
Montella, F. (MSc 2006). Environmental Functions of a Buffer Space for a Shopping Mall.
Rastogi, S. (MSc 2007). Passive and Low Energy Design Ideas for High Rise Residential Buildings in Delhi.
Raymont, D. (MSc 2006). Low Income Housing – an Approach through Sustainable Design
Sagia, V. (MSc 2006). Double Enclosure Application for a Commercial Building in Athens
Salim, A. (MSc 2006). Outdoors-Indoors Courtyards in Kerala, India.
Thapar, H. (MSc 2007). Microclimate and Urban Form for Dubai.
Tubertini, S. (MSc 2006). Low Energy High Rise Office Buildings for Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Vujeva, S. (MSc 2006 with Commendation). Alterations to Single Family Long Island Dwellings for Energy Efficiency.
Yiannoulopoulou, L. (MSc 2007). Autonomising Community or Communising Autonomy- seeking an autonomous community.

MA 1995-2005

Albers, M. (1999). Passive Solar Design for Refurbished Attic Spaces.
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Sustainable development: a qualitative case study analysis of strategies utilized by the united states and china in sub-saharan africa.

Mandy Dagold Follow

Date of Award

Spring 2021

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Social Science and Global Studies

Committee Chair

Dr. Robert. Pauly

Committee Chair School

Committee member 2.

Dr. Tom Lansford

Committee Member 2 School

Committee member 3.

Dr. Joseph Weinberg

Committee Member 3 School

Committee member 4.

Dr. Faridi Tavana

Committee Member 4 School

Despite the assistance received from the 1960s to the 2010s, Africa is still the poorest continent on Earth. Why is Africa still struggling with development? Why is any assistance received, whether through aid and/or loans, not sustainable? What does sustainable development look like? This dissertation utilizes a descriptive comparative qualitative case study methodological approach to determine which strategies are most effective in achieving sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This research adds to the existing body of knowledge by comparing China’s and America’s economic, social, environmental, and institutional development strategies—specifically comparing a strategy supported by structuralist theories versus post-development theories. This research also adds a practical nature to this research area because actual projects that are being conducted by the U.S. and China in Sub-Saharan Africa are assessed to determine their sustainability. This has the capability of adding evidence to support or refute other findings on not just sustainable development research but also research on the identities and interests of actors in the international system.

Based on the findings presented and analyzed in the dissertation, both the U.S. and Chinese strategies have been effective in achieving sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa. The United States has a holistic development approach that focuses on training and building capacity. China focuses on infrastructure that can serve as a solid foundation for economic growth. The United States should understand that China is more successful in some African countries because they give development assistance with few or no conditions. China should consider the effects of development on the environment and reconsider their “state-secret development assistance strategy. Both nations should ensure that all parties are aware of development interventions to ensure buy-in and avoid delays. This dissertation concludes with policy prescriptions for the United States, China and other development partners.

Mandy Dagold, 2021

Recommended Citation

Dagold, Mandy, "Sustainable Development: A Qualitative Case Study Analysis of Strategies Utilized by the United States and China in Sub-Saharan Africa" (2021). Dissertations . 1863. https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/1863

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Sustainable Development

Master's thesis.

The Master’s thesis is a research project in which you will learn to conduct independent research. You will develop and/or apply new methods, or apply existing methods to a new problem. The research should be relevant from both a scientific perspective, expanding the body of scientific knowledge, and a societal one, producing knowledge that contributes to a better understanding of or the solution to a problem.

More information on the Master’s thesis procedures can be found in the thesis course manual of academic year in which you started the programme.

Please use the Master’s thesis research proposal information (to be found on BlackBoard) for your research proposal. Summit your proposal to the secretariat for approval by the Board of Examiners.

Track Coordinators keep a file of possible topics for research projects. Although students may propose their own topics, a proposal will only be accepted if an experienced supervisor for the topic is available.

Research work

Although the research work is not generally expected to be experimental in nature, the possibility of including some experimental work in your research project is not ruled out.

Where can you conduct your research?

You may conduct your research project at a university in the Netherlands or abroad, as well as at a research institute, consultancy or the like (providing the work is confirmed to be of sufficient academic level).

Part of your research can be also done in the form of an internship at a consultancy or government agency, for instance.

The assessment of your thesis

Your supervisor will assess your Master’s thesis using the Master’s Thesis Rubrics & Assessment Form (to be found on BlackBoard ). It makes the items the supervisor assesses and the criteria he or she uses transparent. You will receive the form when you start the Master’s thesis process. Please use it to acquaint yourself with the assessment criteria and to assess yourself during the thesis process. Your supervisor is expected to tell you early on which items he or she considers most important and the order they should take in the thesis, so you will not get any surprises later on.

Uploading your thesis

After your thesis has been approved, it has to be uploaded into the thesis archive . One week after the grade is registered in OSIRIS, the student will receive a request by email to upload the reviewed thesis (in PDF format) through OSIRIS Case for the purpose of the thesis archive. The thesis archive is only accessible to employees. If you did not receive an email, contact [email protected] .

Graduation presentations

Attending Graduation Presentations will be very supportive to the work on your thesis. Every months students present the results of their research. You have to attend at least ten presentations. If you do the track Energy and Materials, you can also attend the presentations of Energy Science .

Research topics

You have to attend at least ten presentations. In this way you will be able to develop a broad view on all kind of recent research topics, and to keep in touch with your fellow students and teachers especially in the final, sometimes rather lonely, stage of your studies. Of course you’re also most welcome to start attending them if you’re not working on your thesis yourself yet. Attending and discussing the research of students in their graduation phase, is a useful way to prepare yourself for your own thesis and it might bring you some inspiring ideas on the topics you’ll want to research yourself. You will find the schedules of the presentations per month - if applicable - on Blackboard .

Registration

You are responsible for keeping track of the presentations you have attended. You will be asked to provide an overview of the presentations to the Copernicus Institute's secretary's office at the end of your thesis process. Please keep in mind that without this proof of attendance you will not be able to schedule your own presentation, and thus be eligible to receive a grade for the Master's thesis.

The dates that are available for presenting your thesis or internship can be found on BlackBoard. Please contact the secretariat if you want to reserve a time slot (after consulting your supervisor).

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This guide presents resources related to the themes of the 17 SDGs. Latin American and Caribbean Studies - Environment & Sustainability. This guide provides selected resources on the topics of the environment and sustainability as they relate to these regions. Each resource category provides sources on a regional and country basis. Earth Day 2023.
List of Dissertations
The Potential For Sustainable Regeneration. MSc Dissertation Sustainable Environmental Design . MArch 2009; Hue, J. Design of a Cultural Centre in Madureira, Rio De Janeiro. ... M. A. (MSc 2006). A Prototype House for a Sustainable Small scale Development in Baja Sur, Mexico. Gunasekara, S. (MSc 2007). A "Study" of Wellbeing- designing an ...
Sustainable Development: A Qualitative Case Study Analysis of
Dagold, Mandy, "Sustainable Development: A Qualitative Case Study Analysis of Strategies Utilized by the United States and China in Sub-Saharan Africa" (2021). Dissertations. 1863. Despite the assistance received from the 1960s to the 2010s, Africa is still the poorest continent on Earth. Why is Africa still struggling with development?
Master's thesis
Master's thesis. The Master's thesis is a research project in which you will learn to conduct independent research. You will develop and/or apply new methods, or apply existing methods to a new problem. The research should be relevant from both a scientific perspective, expanding the body of scientific knowledge, and a societal one, producing ...
PDF Msc in Sustainable Development Dissertation
development of recycling intentions, works. 1.2 Contribution of the thesis This thesis sets to explore the mechanism behind the formation of recycling intentions. From the marketing to the health sector, Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior has been widely used (Armitage and Conner, 2001) , providing satisfactory results and a strong

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20 Dissertation Topics on Sustainability and Green Technology

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Latest Research Topics on Sustainability and Green Technology

Topic 2: Impact of Research and Development (R&D) Expenditure in Green Technology on the Sustainability Outcomes of the Construction Industry- A Case of Malaysian Construction Industry

Topic 3: What are the Motivating and Demotivating Factors for Green Supply Chain Practices? An Exploratory Study Finding the Factors Affecting Green Supply Chain Practices in the UK

Topic 4: Influence of Green Advertising on the Consumer View of Green Technology and Sustainability in the US

Topic 5: Green Economy a Necessity? Impact of Green Technology on Sustainable Economic Growth and Development- A Case of ASEAN Economies

Topic 6: The Potential of Biomimicry in Green Technology Innovation

Topic 7: Circular Economy and its Application in Achieving Sustainability Targets

Topic 8: Sustainable Water Management in the Era of Climate Change

Topic 9: The Role of Information Technology in Advancing Sustainability Initiatives

Topic 10: Corporate Social Responsibility and Green Technology Adoption: A Case Study Analysis

Topic 11: Impact of Smart Grid Technologies for Sustainable Energy Management

COVID-19 Sustainability and Green Technology Research Topics

Topic 2: COVID-19 and the environment

Topic 3: Economic expenditure on the green environment during COVID-19

Topic 4: The green economy after COVID-19

Dissertation Topics Ideas on Sustainability and Green Technology on Global Impact

Topic 2: Sustainable outdoor designs using recycled materials

Topic 3: Pollution-free disposal and recycling of trash

Topic 4: Importance of gardening- awareness and ideas for the city, terrace/roof gardening

Topic 5: Examining the economic impacts of green technology

Topic 6: How do national and regional politics affect environmental sustainability?

Topic 7: How sustainable is the environment in the current and forthcoming eras?

Topic 8: Adoption of green energy by low-end users

Topic 9: How green technology can affect organisational processes

Topic 10: To what extent does green technology contribute to environmental sustainability?

Topic 11: Green technology and global environmental sustainability frameworks

Topic 12: Green technology practices in developing countries

Topic 13: How do policies affect the use of green technology in a country?

Topic 14: Incentives for green technology and environmental sustainability

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More Research Titles on Sustainability and Green Technology

Topic 2: Impactful green thinking to achieve sustainability

Topic 3: A holistic approach to environmental sustainability

Topic 4: Can there be a balance between lifestyle and green technology?

Topic 5: How do businesses perceive green energy and environmental sustainability?

Topic 6: Examining sustainability policies in developed and developing countries

Topic 7: Challenges facing green technology as one of the drivers towards sustainability

Topic 8: What is the consumer perspective towards green production?

Topic 9: Stakeholders’ contribution to green technology

Topic 10: Current trends in green technology and the future of technology

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Sustainability Dissertation Topics

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