The Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals: evolving connections

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyses the evolution of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by comparing 63 first and updated submissions across 89 countries. Using the NDC-SDG Connections tool, the authors examine how climate action plans align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, noting an increase in the volume of activities and a growing focus on social dimensions, alongside a concerning decrease in activities related to food, water, and land use.

• Updated NDC submissions are significantly longer and contain more activities than original submissions, with an aggregate increase in activities of nearly 29%. However, the authors note that while document length has increased, "the levels of ambition have not."
• There is a marked increase in climate activities targeting the social dimension of sustainability, particularly regarding gender equality (Goal 5), reduced inequalities (Goal 10), and inclusive participation (Goal 16). Activities for Goal 5 and 10 increased threefold, while Goal 16 saw a fifteenfold increase. Conversely, activities related to Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Goal 4 (Quality Education) have decreased.
• While activities under Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 14 (Life Below Water) have increased, there is a decrease in climate activities linked to other critical environmental sectors. Specifically, activities related to Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and Goal 15 (Life on Land) have declined in both absolute and relative terms.
• The share of quantified activities in NDCs has increased from 12% to 24%, but remains low for most SDGs, often staying below 20%. Notably, there are no quantifiable climate activities for Goal 5 (Gender equality), Goal 10 (Reduced Inequality), and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
• In the economic dimension, Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) remains the most prominent area of climate policy, but activities addressing energy access and affordability (Target 7.1) have decreased. Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) has decreased in both absolute and relative terms.
• Updated NDCs show a shift in resource mobilization strategies under Goal 17. While developing countries continue to call for international climate finance, there is a new, strong emphasis on strengthening domestic mobilization through partnerships with civil society and the private sector.

APA

Dzebo, A., Iacobușa, G. I., & Beaussart, R. (2023). The Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals: evolving connections. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sei-brief-paris-agenda-2030-connections-dzebo-may-2023.pdf

Chicago

Dzebo, Adis, Gabriela Ileana Iacobușa, and Raphaèlle Beaussart. The Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals: evolving connections. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2023. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sei-brief-paris-agenda-2030-connections-dzebo-may-2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dzebo |first1=Adis |last2=Iacobușa |first2=Gabriela Ileana |last3=Beaussart |first3=Raphaèlle |title=The Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals: evolving connections |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=May 2023 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sei-brief-paris-agenda-2030-connections-dzebo-may-2023.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dzebo2023paris, author = {Dzebo, Adis and Iacobușa, Gabriela Ileana and Beaussart, Raphaèlle}, title = {{The Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals: evolving connections}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sei-brief-paris-agenda-2030-connections-dzebo-may-2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }