The Post-2030 Initiative: Science for the Next Global Sustainable Development Agenda
The Post-2030 Initiative: Science for the Next Global Sustainable Development Agenda
Bringing together SDG experts from around the world to develop meaningful academic input on how the next sustainable development agenda can be strengthened after 2030.
The science community played a critical thought leadership role in the government-led process of designing the SDGs – synthesising and communicating evidence-based insights through publications and reports, participating in official UN meetings and background discussions, and engaging directly with policy makers.
In 2027, the UN will start a process to negotiate what the global sustainable agenda will look like after 2030. Policymakers now have the opportunity to draw on both experience and the growing body of research on SDGs implementation to inform and enhance a potential post-2030 framework. This contribution will be even more impactful if supported by greater coordination, cross-regional collaboration, and coherent messaging from leading SDGs research communities.
In this project, we have partnered with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) to ensure any future framework is grounded in the latest scientific knowledge and evidence. To this end, we are convening key SDG experts and stakeholders from around the world in a series of workshops to develop academic insights in support of the post-2030 negotiations.
Workshop 1: Beyond 2030: Shaping the post-2030 sustainable development agenda
10-11 December 2024, Monash University Indonesia, Banten, Indonesia
The kick-off workshop of this project brought together approximately 25 global academic experts to discuss the successes and shortcomings in the implementation of the SDGs so far; global trends likely to impact the post-2030 agenda; and ideas for reforms or strengthening the SDGs beyond 2030.
Workshop 2: Pathways to Impact
10-11 December 2025, Stockholm Enviroment Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
The second workshop of this project brought together key experts and policymakers from around the world to deepen understanding of policy demand, explore how science can support the post-2030 process, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
A theory of change approach to enhance the post-2030 sustainable development agenda
The Post-2030 Initiative has published an influential article in Science, arguing that the post-2030 agenda needs to be grounded in a strong and explicit theory of change. While the SDGs remain a landmark achievement in creating a shared global vision for sustainable development, they were underpinned by flawed assumptions about how goal‑setting would drive real‑world action.
Through a detailed content analysis of the 2030 agenda, 23 researchers in the post-2030 research consortium, spanning 17 research institutions globally, reconstructed the “implicit theory of change” that shaped the SDGs. They found that the framework assumed global goals would naturally translate into national strategies, mobilise actors, and ultimately transform societies, without considering the impact of roadblocks that would impede change.
With proposals for the next global sustainable development framework already emerging, the researchers argue that a systematic method is needed to assess which ideas are both impactful and politically feasible within an increasingly polarised global landscape. They argue that a stronger theory of change can help turn ambition into action and ensure the next global agenda delivers the transformations people and the planet desperately need.
Allen, C., Malekpour, S., Weitz, N., Bennich, T., Pedercini, M., Sagar, A., Griggs, D., Raven, R., Sun, Y., Pradhan, P., Sénit, C.-A., Stevance, A.-S., Leininger, J., Lafortune, G., Llanos, A. O., Onoda, S., Fernando, G., Lechner, A. M., Mohan, A. V., … Nilsson, M. (2026). A theory of change approach to enhance the post-2030 sustainable development agenda. Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), 391(6782), 241–244. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adz5704
Other Publications
Xu, J., Malekpour, S., Allen, C., & Mintrom, M. (2026). How SDG localization interacts with existing governance contexts. Global Sustainability, 9, Article e27. https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2026.10067
Ng, X. R., Malekpour, S., & Raven, R. (2025). Sustainability transitions in corporations: The influence of the sustainable development goals on corporate financial performance. Earth System Governance, 26, Article 100293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esg.2025.100293
Allen, C., Malekpour, S., Persson, Å., & Bennich, T. (2025). Accelerating progress on the SDGs: Policy guidance from the global modeling literature. One Earth (Cambridge, Mass.), 8(7), Article 101382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101382
Malekpour, S., Cameron Allen, & Allen, C. (2025). Global Sustainable Development Reports (GSDR). In F. Biermann, T. Hikmann, Y. hyun Kang, C.-A. Sénit, & Y. Sun (Eds.), Essential Concepts for Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (1st ed., Vol. 1, pp. 49–50). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003519560-46
Cuesta-Claros, A., Bonar, G., Malekpour, S., Raven, R., & Kestin, T. (2024). Uncovering perspectives on SDG integration for university transformations. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 25(6), 1252–1278. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-03-2023-0111
Malekpour, S., Raven, R., Allen, C., Moallemi, E. A., Ningrum, D., Cuesta-Claros, A., Grainger-Brown, J., Trundle, A., Kestin, T., Coy, D., Dechrai, I., Walters, J., & Bryan, B. (2024). Transformative localization to accelerate the 2030 Agenda. Nature Sustainability, 7(5), 516–518. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01324-8
Ningrum, D., Malekpour, S., Raven, R., Moallemi, E. A., & Bonar, G. (2024). Three perspectives on enabling local actions for the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Global Sustainability, 7, Article e22. https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2024.20
Allen, C., Biddulph, A., Wiedmann, T., Pedercini, M., & Malekpour, S. (2024). Modelling six sustainable development transformations in Australia and their accelerators, impediments, enablers, and interlinkages. Nature Communications, 15(1), Article 594. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44655-4
Malekpour, S., Allen, C., Sagar, A., Scholz, I., Persson, Å., Miranda, J. J., Bennich, T., Dube, O. P., Kanie, N., Madise, N., Shackell, N., Montoya, J. C., Pan, J., Hathie, I., Bobylev, S. N., Agard, J., & Al-Ghanim, K. (2023). What scientists need to do to accelerate progress on the SDGs. Nature (London), 621(7978), 250–254. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02808-x
Cuesta-Claros, A., Malekpour, S., Raven, R., & Kestin, T. (2023). Are the sustainable development goals transforming universities? – An analysis of steering effects and depth of change. Earth System Governance, 17, Article 100186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esg.2023.100186
Allen, C., & Malekpour, S. (2023). Unlocking and accelerating transformations to the SDGs: a review of existing knowledge. Sustainability Science, 18(4), 1939–1960. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-023-01342-z
Allen, C., Malekpour, S., & Mintrom, M. (2023). Cross‐scale, cross‐level and multi‐actor governance of transformations toward the Sustainable Development Goals: A review of common challenges and solutions. Sustainable Development (Bradford, West Yorkshire, England), 31(3), 1250–1267. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2495
Ningrum, D., Raven, R., Malekpour, S., Moallemi, E. A., & Bryan, B. A. (2023). Transformative potential in sustainable development goals engagement: Experience from local governance in Australia. Global Environmental Change, 80, Article 102670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2023.102670
Grainger-Brown, J., Malekpour, S., Raven, R., & Taylor, E. (2022). Exploring urban transformation to inform the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Cities, 131, Article 103928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103928
Cuesta‐Claros, A., Malekpour, S., Raven, R., & Kestin, T. (2022). Understanding the roles of universities for sustainable development transformations: A framing analysis of university models. Sustainable Development (Bradford, West Yorkshire, England), 30(4), 525–538. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2247
Ningrum, D., Malekpour, S., Raven, R., & Moallemi, E. A. (2022). Lessons learnt from previous local sustainability efforts to inform local action for the Sustainable Development Goals. Environmental Science & Policy, 129, 45–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.12.018
The Post-2030 Initiative actively engages with research, policy and governments to contribute emerging ideas and evidence to discussions about the future of the global sustainable development agenda. Through invited presentations, conferences, workshops, panels and other exchanges, the Initiative shares its evolving work and creates opportunities for dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders working towards a post-2030 agenda.
Briefing to the EU Council Working Party on the 2030 Agenda | 24 April 2026
A briefing to the EU Council Working Party on the 2030 Agenda provided an opportunity to share emerging post-2030 discussions within the scientific community and introduce the Initiative’s Theory of Change approach to strengthening the global sustainable development framework beyond 2030. The Initiative was represented by Nina Weitz (SEI).
SDSN Launch of the Sustainable Development Report | 23 June 2026
The global launch of the Sustainable Development Report 2026 brought together a high-level panel to discuss progress on the SDGs and the future of sustainable development beyond 2030. The Initiative’s work and perspectives were shared by Shirin Malekpour (Monash), who participated as a speaker at the event. Watch here.
Foreign Ministries S&T Advice Network / INGSA|25 June 2026
A presentation to the Foreign Ministry's Science & Technology Advice Network / INGSA shared emerging work on the post-2030 sustainable development agenda, including the Initiative’s Theory of Change approach. The presentation was delivered by Nina Weitz (SEI).
Beyond 2030: Forging Alliances for the Future of Global Sustainability | 30 June 2026
At the Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2026, a high-level roundtable brought together around 35 participants from governments, international organisations, business, civil society and academia to explore the narratives and partnerships needed for an ambitious global sustainability framework beyond 2030. Co-organised by IDOS, Southern Voice, SEI, and Monash, the session sought to build momentum and identify potential alliances and actions in the lead-up to the 2027 SDG Summit. Read here.
“What Comes After 2030?” Webinar | 9 July 2026
The “What Comes After 2030?” webinar, hosted by the Centre for Responsible Business & Leadership at Católica-Lisbon, brought together perspectives from academia, international policy and development practice to explore what should be carried forward from the 2030 Agenda, what needs to change, and how the next generation of global sustainable development frameworks could be shaped. The Initiative’s emerging work and perspectives were shared by Xue Ng (Monash) as part of the panel discussion. Watch here.
SDSN–JICA Workshop on the Post-2030 Agenda Indicator Framework | 28 July 2026
The SDSN–JICA Workshop on the Post-2030 Agenda Indicator Framework brought together international experts to consider how lessons from the current SDG indicator framework can inform approaches to measuring sustainable development beyond 2030. The Initiative’s work was presented through “Post-2030 Initiative – Science for the Next Global Sustainable Development Goals and the Need for a Theory of Change,” delivered by Cameron Allen (Monash). Watch here.
Research collaboration to inform the next global for sustainable development agenda beyond 2030
18 February 2025
Twenty-five thought leaders from different countries and research institutions, with expertise and a strong track record in SDG research, science, and policy met at Monash Indonesia in December 2024 to discuss priorities beyond 2030.
Researchers call for rethink of global sustainable development agenda as 2030 deadline looms
19 January 2026
As the world approaches the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with fewer than one in five targets on track, researchers warn that the next global framework risks repeating the same mistakes unless it is built on a clear and explicit theory of change.