Collaborating for Impact: Navigating Partnerships and Overcoming Challenges across the Sustainable Development Goals
2025; American Chemical Society; Linguagem: Inglês
10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c10171
ISSN2168-0485
AutoresHiba Azim, Amy-Louise Johnston, Morag Nixon, John Luke Woodliffe, Romano Theunissen, Reshma Alookaran Suresh, Subarna Sivapalan, Jack Bobo, Peter Licence,
Tópico(s)Community Health and Development
ResumoInfoMetricsFiguresRef. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & EngineeringASAPArticle This publication is Open Access under the license indicated. Learn More CiteCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore citation options ShareShare onFacebookX (Twitter)WeChatLinkedInRedditEmailJump toExpandCollapse ViewpointJanuary 16, 2025Collaborating for Impact: Navigating Partnerships and Overcoming Challenges across the Sustainable Development GoalsClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!Hiba AzimHiba AzimSchool of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United KingdomMore by Hiba AzimAmy-Louise JohnstonAmy-Louise JohnstonFaculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United KingdomMore by Amy-Louise JohnstonMorag NixonMorag NixonFaculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United KingdomMore by Morag NixonJohn Luke Woodliffe*John Luke WoodliffeFaculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom*Email: [email protected]More by John Luke Woodliffehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1373-9528Romano TheunissenRomano TheunissenInsightPact, Klongton, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, ThailandMore by Romano TheunissenReshma SureshReshma SureshAmrita School for Sustainable Development, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kollam 690525, Kerala, IndiaMore by Reshma SureshSubarna SivapalanSubarna SivapalanSchool of Education, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Nottingham, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, MalaysiaMore by Subarna SivapalanJack BoboJack BoboFood Systems Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United KingdomMore by Jack BoboPeter LicencePeter LicenceSchool of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United KingdomMore by Peter Licencehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2992-0153Open PDFACS Sustainable Chemistry & EngineeringCite this: ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2025, XXXX, XXX, XXX-XXXClick to copy citationCitation copied!https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c10171https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c10171Published January 16, 2025 Publication History Received 11 December 2024Published online 16 January 2025article-commentary© 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society. This publication is licensed under CC-BY 4.0 . License Summary*You are free to share (copy and redistribute) this article in any medium or format and to adapt (remix, transform, and build upon) the material for any purpose, even commercially within the parameters below:Creative Commons (CC): This is a Creative Commons license.Attribution (BY): Credit must be given to the creator.View full license*DisclaimerThis summary highlights only some of the key features and terms of the actual license. It is not a license and has no legal value. Carefully review the actual license before using these materials. This publication is licensed underCC-BY 4.0 . License Summary*You are free to share(copy and redistribute) this article in any medium or format and to adapt(remix, transform, and build upon) the material for any purpose, even commercially within the parameters below: Creative Commons (CC): This is a Creative Commons license. Attribution (BY): Credit must be given to the creator.View full license *DisclaimerThis summary highlights only some of the key features and terms of the actual license. It is not a license and has no legal value. Carefully review the actual license before using these materials. License Summary*You are free to share(copy and redistribute) this article in any medium or format and to adapt(remix, transform, and build upon) the material for any purpose, even commercially within the parameters below: Creative Commons (CC): This is a Creative Commons license. Attribution (BY): Credit must be given to the creator. View full license *DisclaimerThis summary highlights only some of the key features and terms of the actual license. It is not a license and has no legal value. Carefully review the actual license before using these materials. License Summary*You are free to share(copy and redistribute) this article in any medium or format and to adapt(remix, transform, and build upon) the material for any purpose, even commercially within the parameters below: Creative Commons (CC): This is a Creative Commons license. Attribution (BY): Credit must be given to the creator. View full license *DisclaimerThis summary highlights only some of the key features and terms of the actual license. It is not a license and has no legal value. Carefully review the actual license before using these materials. ACS Publications© 2025 The Authors. Published by American Chemical SocietySubjectswhat are subjectsArticle subjects are automatically applied from the ACS Subject Taxonomy and describe the scientific concepts and themes of the article.AmmoniaEnergyPlasticsSustainabilityWastesSynopsisWe illustrate the importance of early career perspectives and diverse partnerships to develop solutions and overcome key challenges to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.1. IntroductionClick to copy section linkSection link copied!The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by all United Nations (UN) Member States in 2015, represent a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The 17 interconnected goals address global challenges, providing a shared blueprint for present and future well-being, recognizing that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with building economic growth and addressing social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection. (1)At the heart of the SDGs lies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. This goal underpins all others by recognizing that the ambitious targets set out in the 2030 agenda can only be realized with strong global partnerships and cooperation. The significance of SDG 17 cannot be overstated. It acknowledges that in our interconnected world, challenges rarely respect national boundaries, and solutions often require coordinated international efforts. This goal promotes international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries, enhancing North–south, South–South, and triangular regional and international cooperation on access to science, technology, and innovation. Furthermore, it encourages the promotion of development, transfer, dissemination, and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favorable terms. This paper seeks to provide a voice to the discussion from a higher education perspective exploring some of the specific challenges and opportunities that pave the road toward the realization of this goal.The SDGs, particularly when viewed through the lens of SDG 17, are profoundly relevant to sustainability innovation within chemistry and engineering. These fields are at the forefront of developing solutions to many of the challenges addressed by the SDGs. For instance, chemists and engineers play crucial roles in developing clean energy technologies as outlined in Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), contributing to solutions required for Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), and innovating water purification and management systems required for Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6).The concept of green chemistry aligns closely with the SDGs, as has been widely discussed. (2,3) Green chemistry principles, such as designing safer chemicals and processes, using renewable feedstocks, and improving energy efficiency, directly contribute to multiple SDGs. (4,5) Similarly, in engineering, the growing field of sustainable engineering focuses on designing and operating systems that use energy and resources at a rate that does not compromise the natural environment or the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (6,7)The relevance of these themes to early career researchers (ECRs) in chemistry, engineering, and related fields is profound. As the next generation of scientists and innovators, ECRs are uniquely positioned to drive forward the agenda of sustainable development. (8) They bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and often a strong passion for addressing global challenges. However, they also face significant challenges in this pursuit.One major challenge for ECRs is the need to navigate the complex, interdisciplinary nature of sustainability research. (9) The SDGs are inherently interconnected, requiring researchers to think beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Another challenge is the long-term holistic nature of sustainability research, which can conflict with the pressure to produce quick, publishable results often favored in academic career progression. (10) Research has shown that ECRs may find it difficult to secure funding for projects with longer time horizons hence limiting the real-world impact of their work. (11)Given these challenges, it is important ECRs begin collaborations early in their academic careers, providing them with a multitude of benefits. They enable the building of diverse networks that can offer support, expertise, and resources throughout their careers. These collaborations also provide invaluable exposure to different research cultures, methodologies, and perspectives, broadening the researcher's horizons and enriching their work. This offers an opportunity to develop essential soft skills necessary for effective teamwork and project management, which are crucial in addressing complex sustainability challenges. Moreover, collaborative work often increases the chances of securing funding through joint grant applications, providing vital resources for research. ECRs should consider the global implications and applications of their research, ensuring that their work has relevance and impact beyond their immediate context. Engaging with diverse stakeholders, including those from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, is crucial for developing solutions that are adaptable and effective in various settings. Perhaps most importantly, early collaborations allow ECRs to contribute to and benefit from the kind of interdisciplinary work that underpins the complex, interconnected challenges outlined in the SDGs.This global approach naturally leads to the consideration of the relationship between the Global South and Global North. The terms "Global South" and "Global North" are used to describe broad socio-economic and political divides, roughly capturing the distinction between economically developed countries (Global North) and developing or less developed countries (Global South). (12) It is important to note that these terms are not strictly geographical and are more about economic relationships than cardinal directions. The Global South, which includes many countries in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia, is disproportionately affected by many of the challenges addressed by the SDGs. The Global North has been responsible for the majority of historical greenhouse gas emissions, the impacts of climate change are often felt more severely in the Global South. (13) Many countries in the Global South face increased vulnerability to extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and changes in agricultural productivity. Similarly, issues of poverty, lack of access to education and healthcare, and exposure to environmental pollutants are often more acute in the Global South. However, many countries in the Global South are also at the forefront of innovative solutions to sustainability challenges. For instance, some are leapfrogging outdated technologies to implement renewable energy systems, while others are pioneering nature-based solutions to climate change. (14)For ECRs, understanding the dynamics between the Global North and South is crucial and informs several important considerations in their work. It highlights the need for equitable partnerships that recognize and value the knowledge and innovations coming from the Global South, moving beyond outdated paradigms of unidirectional knowledge transfer.In this paper we present an example of such a perspective drawn from the experiences of four ECRs within chemistry and engineering, exploring the relevance of SDG 17 in their specific fields. Key challenges holding back potential innovation are then considered alongside possible solutions. These perspectives are then further developed in collaboration with other multidisciplinary stakeholders facilitating the distillation of four significant themes which encompass the key challenges and potential solutions which unite the diverse and global group, illustrated in Figure 1. While the conclusions drawn are broad and context dependent, we illustrate an example of how SDG 17 can be used practically toward collaborative solutions.Figure 1Figure 1. Illustrating the importance of partnerships and collaboration to develop solutions and overcome challenges to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.High Resolution ImageDownload MS PowerPoint Slide2. ECR Perspectives of Collaboration in Sustainability ResearchClick to copy section linkSection link copied!2.1. Development of Advanced Wastewater Treatment TechnologiesWater pollution is ambiguous in the aqueous environment, with a wide range of pollutants being observed in waters globally. Pharmaceuticals are a class of pollutants which are not removed through conventional wastewater treatment technologies, with reports of removal reaching ∼10% removal in some settings. (15) Therefore, to facilitate removal of pharmaceuticals and other emerging pollutants, sewage treatment works need to be upgraded to include additional technologies targeting their removal and/or degradation. The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment, especially antibiotics, is known to be having detrimental impacts on human and environmental health. Specifically, antibiotics are known to be contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistance which is predicted to be a leading cause of death globally. (16,17) Developing new advanced water treatment technologies for the removal of such pollutants contributes to several UN SDGs including Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).Sorption is an advanced water treatment technology which is gaining a lot of interest as it is a technology which aligns with the requirements of a circular economy. It can also be low energy and simple if designed well. Activated carbon is the most commonly utilized sorbent material, but has limitations, especially around regeneration costs. (18) Hence there is a drive to develop new sorbent materials such as layered double hydroxides (LDH) which are clay-like materials. (19) It is possible to synthesize a range of LDH using a continuous flow system which has been developed at University of Nottingham (UoN). (20−23)The multidisciplinary challenges associated with the development and evaluation of performance of new sorbent material requires a collaborative approach. A collaborative approach ensures the development of new sorbent materials produces data to further support their industrial application and technology transfer. Research areas to consider include evaluating removal of environmentally significant pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, (19) at environmentally relevant concentrations, typically < mg/L concentrations. Suitable analytical techniques for this work are inherently sensitive, often requiring specialist knowledge, hence collaborations are beneficial to ensure collection of robust data. (24) Removal performance from complex environmental waters, such as municipal wastewater effluent, also provide insights into how materials will perform in industrial settings. (25) For this, researchers require access to environmental water for sampling on a regular basis, possibly provided through relationships with water treatment facilities.2.2. An Innovative Solution for Carbon CaptureClimate change is one of the greatest challenges currently facing humankind, predicted to cause significant negative impacts on our society and the environment. An essential mitigation strategy is to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from its largest source: power plants. However, current amine scrubbing technologies for CO2 capture are ineffective due to very high energy requirements. (26) A new class of materials known as magnetic framework composites (MFCs) have been recently explored at UoN to address the technical challenges of amine scrubbing. These novel materials achieve both a higher capacity and selectivity for CO2 over other gases, with much lower energies required to regenerate the sorbents for reuse using efficient magnetic induction heating. (27,28)This research directly addresses the UN SDG of Climate Action (SDG 13). However, due to the impacts of climate change around the world, mitigating global warming also impacts a variety of other SDGs, such as No Poverty (SDG 1) and Zero Hunger (SDG 2).The scale and imminence of the climate change challenge requires effective partnerships across sectors and industries. A challenge for ECRs is collaborating with industrial partners to advance academic research toward impact, particularly difficult in highly commercial fields such as CO2 capture. (29,30) Fear of losing or splitting intellectual property (IP) from any joint discoveries can be enough to make industrial partners hesitate before starting collaborations with ECRs at academic institutions. The limited resources of start-up companies can also make them unable to fund contract research at universities. Understandably, in order to protect their IP, companies then require lengthy nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) and contracts to be set up between the institutions. However, the limited time scales of ECRs on short-term contracts makes it difficult to progress these collaborations, as contracts can take significant amounts of time to set up.Helpful strategies for overcoming these barriers include IP frameworks, where academic institutions are clear and upfront about how any joint research would impact current or forward IP. Additionally, simplified or generalized NDAs which could be quickly put in place to allow collaborative research to begin would highly benefit ECRs looking to establish new collaborations with industry.2.3. The Early Development of Biological Recycling of PlasticPlastic is a versatile and valuable resource which has meant that global production continues to increase, with currently over 400 million tonnes produced annually. (31) The durable properties of plastic has led to an increasing disposal challenge, with limited end-of-life treatment options. (32) Plastic waste is overwhelming the waste system, resulting in waste escaping and polluting the environment, on land, in rivers and in the oceans; it is estimated 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes entered the ocean in 2010. (33)Plastic waste can be managed using several waste streams including recycling; mechanical, chemical or biological, energy recovery via incineration and landfill. (34) Research at UoN has explored biological recycling of polyethylene (PE), which involves the use of microorganisms or enzymes to degrade the plastic into valuable commodity chemicals. (35) Biological recycling for PE is at a very early stage, with researchers still discovering microorganisms and the key enzymes. (36,37) However, this technology has been successfully commercialized for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic by Carbios in France. Carbios have demonstrated the degradation of plastic bottles and textile waste using their proprietary PET degrading enzymatic process and are currently constructing the first commercial plant. (38)This new plastic recycling technology has potentially a huge sustainability impact, satisfying at least six of the UN SDGs. Less mismanagement of plastic waste would address Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Life Below Water (SDG 14) and Life On Land (SDG 15). Incorporating plastic into the circular economy would also reduce reliance on virgin petroleum-based plastic, addressing Climate Action (SDG 13), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).Although the technology has advanced in recent years, transitioning to a bioeconomy and realizing the full sustainable potential of this technology will require many strategic partnerships. Biological recycling must overcome significant infrastructure challenges, such as the lack of physical infrastructure and efficient plastic waste collection and processing methods. However, process case studies taken from the food industry and biomass valorisation industry demonstrate the successful implementation of biobased production plants. (39,40) Recent studies have also highlighted unfavorable investment conditions and market environment as economic transition barriers. (41) These barriers involve a diverse range of stakeholders and discourage industrial collaboration to commercialize biological recycling of plastic.2.4. Sustainable Production of Ammonia to Decarbonize the Energy SystemGreen ammonia has emerged as a promising candidate for carbon-free fuel, offering several advantages that position it as a potential cornerstone of future sustainable energy systems. Its high energy density, compatibility with existing green hydrogen technologies, and the presence of established global distribution networks make it an attractive option for decarbonizing various sectors, including transportation, industry, and agriculture. (36) The realization of this technology could make significant contributions to multiple UN SDGs but directly supporting the drive toward Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), by facilitating the transition to renewable energy systems.However, the widespread implementation of green ammonia faces significant challenges. Chief among these is the need to dramatically increase production rates to meet potential future demand. (42) This requirement necessitates substantial improvements in efficiency, a goal that has remained elusive for over a century due to the chemical and economic complexities involved in ammonia synthesis. (43) Recent advancements in plasma technologies offer a promising new direction for green ammonia production. (44) However, to fully realize the potential of these new technologies and drive innovation at the pace required to meet sustainability targets, fostering partnerships and collaboration across various sectors is crucial. The development and implementation of green ammonia technologies requires a multifaceted approach involving academia, industry, and government. Research institutions must work closely with industrial partners to ensure that laboratory-scale discoveries can be effectively scaled up to meet the demands of large-scale manufacturing plants. This transition from research to large-scale production is a critical challenge that requires careful navigation of technical, economic, and regulatory landscapes.Government policies play a pivotal role in facilitating this transition. This may involve the development of funding initiatives, market incentives and regulatory frameworks to support the industry. One of the key challenges in implementing these policies is balancing the need for rapid innovation with the realities of industrial scale-up and economic feasibility. Local, regional, and national governments must work in concert to create a coherent policy framework that supports green ammonia development. The global nature of the ammonia market also presents challenges in terms of policy harmonization and international competition. Countries may need to balance their desire to lead in green ammonia technology with the need for international cooperation to create a viable global market.By fostering innovative partnerships, supporting cutting-edge research, and implementing thoughtful and flexible policies, governments can play a crucial role in accelerating the development and adoption of green ammonia technologies. Success in this endeavor has the potential to significantly contribute to global sustainability targets and pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.3. Key Challenges and Solutions to PartnershipsClick to copy section linkSection link copied!The UoN hosted a workshop during the official preconference session at the Times Higher Education (THE) Global Sustainable Development Congress, in Bangkok, Thailand between 10th-13th June 2024. Workshop attendees were from both academic and nonacademic sectors; at all stages of their careers; and represented multiple geographies. Informal round table discussions with workshop attendees shaped and contributed to the following section of this perspective, which discusses in more detail many of the challenges related to conducting collaborative research.Several themes surrounding partnerships evolved from these discussions, including different challenges alongside solutions to overcome such challenges. Alongside a summary of these topics, there are numerous best practice examples available which highlight the diversity of practical solutions to address the complex challenges, ranging from individual to multistakeholder efforts. The following section of this paper does not aim to encompass the full breadth of the discussions, or expose all challenges in collaborations for achieving SDGs, but rather hopes to cast light on some of the areas of interest.3.1. Partnership Dynamics and Coordination ChallengesPartnerships are key to achieving the SDGs, as they accelerate progress and implementation of sustainable technologies. However, one of the first barriers to overcome is the difficulty to successfully engage with collaborators. This can be for several reasons such as lack of access, diverse stakeholder interests or poor communication. There may be a reluctance from local partners to engage with certain projects and areas of research, especially those with a sustainability focus. Such perspectives and experiences maybe be more predominant within the Global South, where many countries are facing multiple overlapping crises and are struggling to prioritise sustainability. (45) This issue of overlapping crises can lead to diverse stakeholder interests, where each party comes to a project from a different perspective. While these diverse perspectives can be beneficial, especially for multidisciplinary projects, and lead to a range of solutions, it can also lead to conflicting interests. These conflicting interests are often made more challenging if there is poor communication between the stakeholders. A silo mentality, where everyone works in isolation and focuses solely on their own goals, often sets in and can hinder the progress of an entire project.Successful partnerships are cemented by trust and respect. (46) Unfortunately, in scenarios in which trust and respect is lacking between collaborators, it can be challenging to generate equal benefits and opportunities for all members of the partnership. Furthermore, discussion topics arose related to partnership dynamics and coordination, particularly within sustainability, highlighting the imbalanced dynamic was especially prevalent within Global South and Global North collaborations. Such asymmetries in power within such research collaborations have been researched and reported by authors within the literature in different settings, including making conclusions regarding the importance of building trust. (47,48) The Global North has exploited the Global South for its natural resources, resulting in climate change heavily affecting the Glo
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