Driving Impact: Springer Nature's Initiatives for the SDGs

Springer Nature is proud to be a leading publisher of research on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing critical global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, health, and more. 

Our commitment to the SDGs manifests primarily in publishing SDG research in order to support efforts to achieve a more sustainable and equitable world, but also through facilitating essential collaboration across disciplines and encouraging researchers to focus on impactful, socially meaningful research.

Here is an overview of some of Springer Nature's SDG-related events and projects from 2024, and you can be sure that we are well underway with plans for 2025.

A home for SDG-related research

As a publisher, our first and foremost contribution is publishing SDG-related research. Since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, Springer Nature has published more than one million articles and book chapters across all 17 SDGs.  

"The biggest impact we can have on the Goals is through the content we publish. We want to provide a home for SDG-related knowledge, facilitating the discovery, sharing, use and reuse of research that has true impact towards a sustainable future."
Nicola Jones, Director, Springer Nature SDG Programme

Springer Nature’s SDG Programme hub is your gateway to our SDG Programme.

In the 17 hubs you’ll find links to journals, Collections, and books related to each of the SDGs, along with additional resources and insights. The hubs aim to amplify research on the SDGs and contribute to their advancement, and they serve researchers, practitioners, and policymakers alike. 

If you’re interested in publishing your SDG research with Springer Nature, use the hub related to your area of research as a starting point: Find information on publishing your SDG book with one of Springer Nature’s imprints, or discover relevant journals and Collections suitable for your next article. And learn more about Springer Nature’s Sustainable Development Goals Series, one of the most comprehensive research libraries on the SDGs publishing interdisciplinary books across the 17 SDGs, if you want to maximise the reach of your SDG research. 

In 2023, a quarter of all articles published by Springer Nature were related to the SDGs, and over half of these were published open access (OA). Considering the urgency and severity of the issues addressed by the SDGs, publishing SDG research openly and accessibly is of significant importance. Books published OA, for example, are cited 2.4 times more often than non-OA books, and for SDG research, the added visibility and accessibility are essential. 

“Wider reach and impact are particularly important for SDG research because accessibility is key to fostering and sustaining global collaboration and discourse. That’s why publishing OA is central to our commitment to the SDGs.” 
Christina M. Brian, Springer Nature’s Vice President of Books

Creating space for discussion and collaboration for the SDGs

To enhance the visibility and impact of these important publications relating to the SDGs, Springer Nature creates opportunities to engage with academics, practitioners, policymakers, and the public. By hosting and organising SDG-related events, Springer Nature leads and participates in the efforts to raise awareness and disseminate knowledge about the SDGs. These events are platforms for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to connect, share ideas, and collaborate on projects that can drive progress towards achieving the SDGs.

"We aim to combine the cooperation of events with our great content to help everyone successfully achieve the SDGs.”
Steven Inchcoombe, President of Research at Springer Nature

Working in collaboration with various organisations and initiatives, Springer Nature leverages its position as a leader in SDG publishing and collaborates with its committed authors and their impactful research to endorse and advance the SDGs. Some events in 2024 included:

• Science for a Sustainable Future, a joint initiative of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and Springer Nature, brings together policymakers, government representatives, UN officials, and leading global scientists to discuss and advance the SDGs. The 2024 panels discussed pertinent issues such as adaptation of health systems to climate change, alternative measures to the GDP, and dynamics of migration in the context of environmental events. You can watch the panels, review the concise policy briefs, explore the vibrant visual summaries, or read an overview and commentary on the event and each of the panels.
• Science on the Hill convenes policy leaders and scientists to discuss pertinent issues such as plastic waste, climate-smart agriculture, and weather prediction. In 2024, discussions focused on space junk and our increasingly crowded orbital environment. You can watch the recording of the event, explore relevant publications from Scientific American and Nature, or read an interview to learn about the history of the event and its outcomes. 
• At the Sustainable Development in Latin America and The Caribbean 2024 Summit, over 350 participants from 54 countries gathered to promote regional action and leadership in advancing SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. Steven Inchcoombe, President of Research at Springer Nature, said of the Summit: “We aim to combine the cooperation of events like this with our great content to help everyone successfully achieve the SDGs.” Read the policy brief or the recap of the event to find out more about the discussions with academia, multilateral institutions, governments, the private sector, and the third sector. 
• The second annual Nature Conference Breaking Barriers for Gender and Health Equity through Research brought together over 1,600 participants. The conference focused on the role of research in achieving equitable health outcomes for women and girls, but also on the importance of equity as a key requirement in maximising scientific progress and achieving the best health outcomes for all populations and in all parts of the world. If you missed it, read the recap of the event.

Disseminating knowledge and transferring information

Webinars are an accessible and productive way to support and advance the SDGs, and as a publisher, Springer Nature uses them to raise awareness, support policy and decision-making, and connect with audiences within and beyond academia. Springer Nature’s SDG Talks series is a forum for experts to discuss research that could be used to implement solutions to global challenges. You can watch the recordings of past events and sign up to stay informed of upcoming talks. 

“You need research and innovation, you need to make sure that science is also talking to policy and helping policy design.”
Dr Phoebe Koundouri, Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark

SDG Talks in 2024 included: 

• Uniting for a Sustainable Future: Connecting Research, Policy, and Communities for Real-World Impact. Read a summary of the event, where speaker Dr Phoebe Koundouri emphasised the importance of partnerships for the Goals: “You need research and innovation, you need to make sure that science is also talking to policy and helping policy design.” 
• Nature Water Talks: Towards net zero in the wastewater sector. Nature Water Talks is a series organised by the Nature Water journal editors, aimed to provide an informal and professional venue for the journal’s community. Experts discuss challenges and opportunities in a range of topics related to water resources and their relationship to society. 
• And other fascinating sessions like Gender Equality in Times of War: Addressing Violence, Justice, and Displacement; Plant Pathology Perspectives on Addressing SDG 1: No Poverty; Rebuilding Marine Life. 

Research Communities: News and insights from researchers like you 

Springer Nature Research Communities are organised by research topics, and provide a space for researchers to connect, explore news and opinions, and generate discussion with peers. Join as many Communities as you wish in the topics that interest you, and find posts from fellow researchers, behind-the-paper stories, and – new! – SDG content that is tagged for easy access. 

Find out more about the new SDG Badges in the Research Communities, which make it easier for you to identify and explore research related to the SDGs, or explore some recent SDG-related posts: 

- Book Highlight: Sustainable Health in Low and Middle Income Countries, by Virginia Mercer 

- SDG3: Natalie Smith on mental health and the Black experience, by India Sapsed-Foster and Natalie Smith 

- Behind the Paper: A Deep Dive into the European Green Deal and its Connection with the SDGs, by Phoebe Koundouri 

- World Food Day 2024: Supporting the SDGs in Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, by Tamara May 

- SDG and me: Advancing Diagnostics and Combatting Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance in Low and Middle-Income Countries, by Nada Malou

- SDG 3 Newsletter: A round-up of Springer Nature’s SDG 3 activities in 2024, by Alice Coe

What’s your story? Want to contribute to Research Communities? Learn how to create a post, write an engaging Behind the Paper post, or share your experience and stories in Life in Research.

DEI for the SDGs: Highlighting research that matters

The SDGs address inequalities, necessitate the empowerment of marginalised groups, and demand inclusive participation. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are interwoven into the SDGs and essential for their attainment. 

In 2024, we marked four prominent social justice and human rights topics with curated publications hand-picked by Springer Nature editors as well as additional content to inform and engage on these important issues:

- Pride Month

- Black Lives Matter

- Mental Health

- Human Rights

Supporting Springer Nature’s efforts to promote the SDGs

It is no secret that the SDGs are at risk of not making their 2030 deadline, with many persisting challenges, and Springer Nature remains committed to the Goals. We are intensifying our efforts to amplify the SDGs and provide a home for SDG-related research with a variety of activities and networks. 

At Springer Nature, we have internal employee Working Groups dedicated to each of the SDGs. They are networks of highly engaged and committed colleagues who take responsibility and drive activities for the SDG Programme and specifically for the SDG they champion. Colleagues from across departments and professions at Springer Nature come together to promote and advocate for the SDGs, gather content, organise events and outreach, and advocate within our organisation and beyond (see, for example, a recent post from the chairs of the SDG 5: Gender Equality Working Group). This dedication drives Springer Nature’s efforts on the SDGs.

At Springer Nature, we are all committed to the SDGs, and to supporting you – our authors, editors, and readers – in promoting sustainable development and all the many areas covered by the Sustainable Development Goals. 2024 was an exciting year with many interesting events and activities. Here’s to a productive and fulfilling 2025 with renewed energy and continued passion for the SDGs, there’s a lot planned!

Visit Springer Nature’s SDG Programme Hub to find articles and books, blogs, events and webinars, and everything you need to know to publish your SDG research with Springer Nature.