To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, policymakers need to base their program decisions on the best available evidence. However, finding credible research on the impact of different SDG programs and policies has been challenging, especially for time-poor policymakers.
An easier way
In 2019, a new initiative called Social Systems Evidence (SSE) was launched to address this long-standing problem. Run out of McMaster University in Canada, SSE aims to be the world’s largest free repository of quality-appraised research reviews relating to the SDGs.
While the first version of SSE covered most of the SDGs program leader, Professor John Lavis (pictured at left), recognised that there were knowledge gaps pertaining to goals 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water) and 15 (Life on Land).
And so, in 2019, he invited the Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI) to become an SSE partner, under the leadership of BehaviourWorks Australia’s health specialist, A/Prof Peter Bragge (pictured at right). The partnership was formally launched at the UN General Assembly Week (aka Climate Week) in New York in September 2019.
McMasters of our own fate
A/Prof Bragge and his team have since expanded this ground-breaking resource, introducing a new classification framework to enable users to easily find research on SDGs 7, 13, 14 and 15.
The team has added 350 records to the database and begun working on a series of Rapid Reviews on topics such as:
- Conservation management in Australia
- Recycling behaviours and business uptake of circular economy approaches (see Waste and Circular Economy Collaboration).
Current status
The SSE platform now has over 4,000 records. Users can save searches and receive email updates on areas of interest. The repository can also be used to help policymakers identify economic evaluations.
Stay tuned for more on SSE as it expands and please contact us for more information.
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