A theory of change approach to enhance the post-2030 sustainable development agenda

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Source: Science Magazine

Original: https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.adz5704?af=R...

Published: 2026-01-15T07:00:10Z

The article proposes a theory of change approach to improve the post-2030 sustainable development agenda. The 2030 Agenda contains 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) elaborated into 169 sub-goals that integrate economic, social and environmental dimensions[1][5]. These goals were approved by the UN General Assembly in September 2015 and are not legally binding, but express the intention of countries to set policies for sustainability[1][2]. The theory of change approach is intended to strengthen the transformative power of the agenda by linking priorities such as climate change, biodiversity protection and the circular economy[1]. The goal is to address threats such as poverty, inequalities and environmental challenges in a universal way for all countries[5]. The study highlights the need for a new global partnership to achieve the goals beyond 2030[2][3]. It is published in the journal Science, Volume 391, Number 6782, Pages 241-244, January 2026.