Sustainability Science Hub: Using data to drive action on the UN SDGs

What gets measured gets done, and progress in sustainability science is no different. Data has the power to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and with an ambitious 2030 target, there are just 10 years left to accelerate action and drive change.

But what kind of data? And does it signify real impact? How can we develop and leverage data to make a real difference?

By combining our unique insights in content, data and analytics with the networks and expertise of the research community, we can work together to develop tools to achieve significant progress.

With an estimated 4.1 million scholarly papers related to the SDGs published in 2015-19, researchers and institutions are presented with a massive amount of data that is growing exponentially. To help them navigate this sea of information, we have produced analytics to better understand sustainability science, tracked the extent to which gender factors into SDG research, examined scholarly impact and collaboration — and made datasets available for everyone to use.

We invite you to browse this Sustainability Science Hub. Here, you can explore how data can produce critical insights into sustainability science, gender, medicine and more; find tools to help decision-makers make evidence-based interventions; and discover resources to fuel innovation that is fundamental to achieving a sustainable and equitable future.

Analytical reports

New report: mapping research to advance the SDGs

Elsevier has just released its new report on the progress of sustainability science. It comes five years after the UN adopted its  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), setting an ambitious 2030 target to achieve a sustainable and equitable future for our planet. 2020 marks the start of the “Decade of Action” we have left to achieve them.

To this end, Elsevier’s new report – The Power of Data to Advance the SDGs – offers unique insights and initiatives, many developed together with partners, to map the state of research within each SDG area. Read more and download the report.

Elsevier's first sustainability science report

In September 2015, on the eve before the UN ratified the 17 SDGs, Elsevier and SciDev.Net released the analysis they collaborated on. Sustainability Science in a Global Landscape provided an overview of the landscape of sustainability science as a research field with a critical eye as to whether enough was being done in the field given the current global challenges.

Tools and data

Help identify research that advances the SDGs

Elsevier’s data science teams have worked with experts to create a Scopus search query for each SDG. With this SDG matching tool, you too can play a part in helping to identify publications relevant to each SDG.

Full details of the methodology and results for each SDG search query are freely available on Mendeley, and the research publications retrieved by these queries can be analyzed in SciVal.

Interactive information and education platforms

Video modules: Sustainable development goals for researchers

In these Researcher Academy modules, experts share how to make your research gender balanced, how to protect the environment while continuing your work, and other ways to help achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals through your work.

The RELX SDG Resource Centre is a free interactive education platform with content curated from across the organization related to the UN's 17 SDGs. Features include a news tracker, published research and events. It was developed with our parent company, RELX.

Stories and resources related to the SDGs

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The UN's third goal is to "ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages."

• Find out about our partnerships supporting global health
• Explore our SDG 3 initiatives

SDG 4: Quality Education

The UN's fourth goal is to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all."

• Find out about our partnerships supporting quality education

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The UN's fifth goal is to "achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls."

• Visit our Gender and Science Resource Center
• Find out about our partnerships supporting gender equality
• Explore our SDG 5 initiatives

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The UN's 10th goal is to "reduce inequality within and among countries."

• Learn about Research4Life
• Find out about our partnerships supporting reduced inequalities
• Explore our SDG 10 initiatives

SDG 13: Climate Action

The UN's 13th goal is to "Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts."

• Find out about our partnerships supporting Climate Action
• Explore our SDG 13 initiatives