How can we ensure AI supports the Sustainable Development Goals beyond 2030?

Inclusive design and strong governance are essential in ensuring technology contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), rather than undermining them. Stakeholders have repeatedly called for improved guardrails, but issues persist.

That is one of the key insights from Elsevier’s Beyond 2030 report, which brings together commentary from the United Nations 10-Member Group on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for the SDGs.

The report also indicates that universities and governments have an essential role to play in building understanding and capacity around AI.

The world must balance innovation and equity in the digital transformation of the SDGs

AI and digital tools are reshaping how countries tackle climate action, energy transition, agriculture, health, and urban development.

However, interviewees noted that to deliver equitable improvements these emerging technologies must be carefully managed. They commented:

Digital tools can reduce barriers but can also reinforce disparities between regions with strong research infrastructure and those without.

Uneven data availability and limited local capacity can lead to ineffective solutions, particularly in low-resource settings.

The report notes the high resource demands of advanced AI systems, including energy use. That could lead to centralization of control among a few actors.

AI can only accelerate SDG progress when innovation is matched by deliberate action to prevent new digital divides.

Governance, trust and social context are essential

Tech alone is not enough to drive sustainable development. One interviewee commented that “governance was identified as a key driver in the adoption of STI and the integration of the SDG agenda across various countries and regions.”

Public trust is also decisive. “Without trust from society and the world, science cannot thrive or receive the support it needs,” the report states. Misinformation and a lack of scientific literacy can stall even the best innovations. According to interviewees:

• Governance is what will align AI with SDG priorities.

• National SDG integration accelerates responsible adoption of AI and digital tools.

• Accountability and transparency are prerequisites for public legitimacy.

• Trust determines uptake; misinformation can derail even proven innovations.

• Social science insight is essential to translate technology into societal impact.

• Without governance and public trust, AI risks scaling inequality faster than it scales solutions.

Governments and universities can take a leading role in navigating information

The Beyond 2030 report emphasizes that AI’s impact on the SDGs will depend on who understands, governs, and benefits from it. Lifelong learning and institutional capacity are central to responsible AI adoption.

Interviewees called on academic institutions to prioritize capacity building, especially in low-resource settings, and to “promote lifelong learning that helps the public understand key issues and navigate information critically.” To help, these institutions can:

• Invest in lifelong learning to strengthen digital and scientific literacy.

• Embed SDG alignment into research policy, funding, and evaluation.

• Strengthen local capacity to use AI responsibly, particularly in low-resource and underrepresented regions

• Treat AI skills, data access, and governance as public-interest infrastructure.

• AI will only advance the SDGs if societies are equipped to question it, guide it, and deploy it responsibly.

AI must be designed for sustainable outcomes

Looking forward, the report urges embedding digital technologies within strong governance frameworks, aligning them with SDG priorities, and investing in skills and infrastructure. As one contributor says, “The transformative potential of environmentally friendly AI and digital tools should be harnessed to accelerate SDG progress, ensuring equitable access and use across regions, genders, and social groups through targeted capacity-building efforts and inclusive project design.”

Companies and institutions must:

• Embed AI within transparent, accountable governance frameworks.

• Align AI development explicitly with SDG targets and societal needs.

• Combine technical innovation with social science insight and local context.

• Design for equitable access across regions, genders, and social groups.

AI contributes to sustainable development not by default, but when it is designed with equity, accountability, and real-world context in mind.

Read more: How Elsevier is embracing responsible AI

The bottom line

With public engagement and international collaboration, AI can be a powerful force for sustainable development, part of a balanced, global effort.