Projects per year
Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global framework for addressing critical challenges, from hunger eradication to climate action and inclusive growth, requiring innovative methods to assess complex data across models. This report builds on the SDG Indicator Framework developed by Gülpen et al. (2024), applying it to evaluate model outputs systematically and transparently, with a focus on food systems at two spatial scales. By mapping SDG coverage for two case studies. One on the water and land system of Pakistan and the other one on healthy diets in Ethiopia, and interlinkages, the framework highlights strengths, identifies gaps.
This research follows a structured approach, starting with defining research questions that establish the scope and identifying relevant goal and process indicators using the SDG framework. These indicators are visualized to explore relationships, uncovering potential trade-offs and synergies to aid stakeholder decision-making. Finally, the global indicator framework is employed to identify gaps in SDG coverage, ensuring a more comprehensive and aligned approach to sustainable development by addressing overlooked areas in each case study. The models included in this study are BioSpacs, LPJmL, MAGNET, MagnetGrid and SSID.
The SDG framework demonstrated its effectiveness in both case studies by uncovering trade-offs across contrasting SDG indicators spanning environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development. While differing in scale: Pakistan analyzed district-level data with a single scenario, and Ethiopia used national-level data with multiple scenarios the integration of various models enriched the analysis. For instance, Pakistan combined physical (LPJmL & MagnetGrid) and socio-economic (SSID) models, while Ethiopia utilized the economic MAGNET model alongside the biophysical BioSpacs model. This multi-model approach revealed nuanced trade-offs, such as the environmental impacts of achieving Zero Hunger (SDG 2) in Ethiopia, offering valuable insights for policymakers navigating complex SDG interdependencies. However, challenges in reconciling divergent model assumptions, such as discrepancies in outputs for indicators like GDP per capita, highlight the need for greater integration and alignment among models to improve reliability and accuracy.
Visualization of trade-offs and trends among SDG indicators proved crucial for simplifying complex results and communicating them effectively to policymakers. Tools like spider plots and maps enabled quick interpretation of key patterns, such as the environmental impacts of Ethiopia's Zero Hunger scenario or the spatial distribution of Pakistan’s goal indicators. However, simplifications in visualizations risk losing nuances, such as the dual impacts of food prices on different populations or the significance of proportional changes at a global scale. Future research should address these limitations by refining visualizations and incorporating specific indicator targets, enhancing their comparability and relevance across countries and scales. By building on these findings, the framework can evolve into a more robust tool for supporting evidence-based policy decisions aligned with sustainable development goals.
This research follows a structured approach, starting with defining research questions that establish the scope and identifying relevant goal and process indicators using the SDG framework. These indicators are visualized to explore relationships, uncovering potential trade-offs and synergies to aid stakeholder decision-making. Finally, the global indicator framework is employed to identify gaps in SDG coverage, ensuring a more comprehensive and aligned approach to sustainable development by addressing overlooked areas in each case study. The models included in this study are BioSpacs, LPJmL, MAGNET, MagnetGrid and SSID.
The SDG framework demonstrated its effectiveness in both case studies by uncovering trade-offs across contrasting SDG indicators spanning environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development. While differing in scale: Pakistan analyzed district-level data with a single scenario, and Ethiopia used national-level data with multiple scenarios the integration of various models enriched the analysis. For instance, Pakistan combined physical (LPJmL & MagnetGrid) and socio-economic (SSID) models, while Ethiopia utilized the economic MAGNET model alongside the biophysical BioSpacs model. This multi-model approach revealed nuanced trade-offs, such as the environmental impacts of achieving Zero Hunger (SDG 2) in Ethiopia, offering valuable insights for policymakers navigating complex SDG interdependencies. However, challenges in reconciling divergent model assumptions, such as discrepancies in outputs for indicators like GDP per capita, highlight the need for greater integration and alignment among models to improve reliability and accuracy.
Visualization of trade-offs and trends among SDG indicators proved crucial for simplifying complex results and communicating them effectively to policymakers. Tools like spider plots and maps enabled quick interpretation of key patterns, such as the environmental impacts of Ethiopia's Zero Hunger scenario or the spatial distribution of Pakistan’s goal indicators. However, simplifications in visualizations risk losing nuances, such as the dual impacts of food prices on different populations or the significance of proportional changes at a global scale. Future research should address these limitations by refining visualizations and incorporating specific indicator targets, enhancing their comparability and relevance across countries and scales. By building on these findings, the framework can evolve into a more robust tool for supporting evidence-based policy decisions aligned with sustainable development goals.
Original language | English |
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Publisher | Wageningen University & Research |
Number of pages | 29 |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2024 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Applying the SDG framework on two case studies: Pakistan and Ethiopia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Modelling Food Systems across multiple scales (KB-35-103-002)
Levin-Koopman, J. (Project Leader)
1/01/23 → 31/12/24
Project: LVVN project