Decision models for sustainable development goals based on a relational network approach

Abstract

The interrelationship and prioritisation of the 17 separate Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) will greatly influence the overall SDGs development agenda. The models developed in this paper quantify the influencing factors of SDG, resulting in a relational network and priority ranking that can make predictions about future development. The models all perform well through fit testing and can be used to propose relationships between company’s and organisation’s development goals and to suggest a priority development order.Based on the Sustainable Development Goals Index (SDG-I) published by the United Nations, a network model of SDG relationships was developed through Spearman correlation analysis. An ARIMA model was constructed using time series predictive analysis on the basis of the SDG relationship network model.A revised model of SDG relevance was developed based on improvements to the SDG relational network model and a proposal to introduce mental health as a new SDG was made.