Professor leads the world´s largest editorial project on sustainable development

Professor Walter Leal leads the development of the project

A new encyclopedia aims to support the UN’s objectives to end poverty, reduce inequality, protect the environment, and promote peace and justice – all of which are highlighted in their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were set out in 2015.

Professor Walter Leal, from Manchester Metropolitan University’s Department of Natural Science, is leading in the production of the publication, to which 3,000 scientists worldwide are contributing.

The Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which is the largest editorial project on sustainable development, aims to raise awareness of the UN’s objectives, how they are to be achieved, and share overall knowledge of the subject.

Professor Leal, Chair of Environment and Technology at the University, said: “The Encyclopedia will hopefully foster awareness about how the UN’s 17 SDGs are likely to be achieved, and will showcase documents, experiences and examples of good practice.”

The idea of the encyclopedia came following the 2015 United Nations General Assembly, where the goals were announced as part of the UN 2030 Agenda.

Professor Leal continued: “I saw the need to compile information and capture knowledge, which will be necessary if the SDGs are to be achieved by 2030. The target groups of the encyclopedia are academics, university students and members of non-profit organisations, as well as policy-makers.”

The publication will be produced in collaboration with Springer Nature and will include 17 volumes in total, one for each of the SDGs.

Two volumes have already been launched, Good health and Well Being and the topical, Climate Action.

The latter of the two was presented during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25),  which took place in Madrid last December.

The encyclopedia will be completed in 2021.