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Chapter 2. Integrated Perspectives on the SustainableDevelopment GoalsThis chapter explores global, integrated perspectives on theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) viewed as a systemas suggested by some scientists. It explores the SDGcoverage of international assessments conducted withinand beyond the UN system and the extent to which theyapply integrated perspectives. In particular, the landscapeof existing international assessment scenario models isbriefly described, in terms of their ability to support anintegrated analysis of progress and transition pathwaystoward achievement of the SDGs. This chaptercomplements and builds on the Prototype GlobalSustainable Development Report 2014 which summarizedvarious integrated concepts, progress measures, trends,and integrated future scenarios toward sustainabledevelopment. 69The chapter distinguishes: (a) integration across the threedimensions of sustainable development for any substantiveissue; (b) integration across substantive areas of what is tobe developed or sustained; and/or (c) integration across awide range of geographic and time scales.2.1. The Sustainable Development Goals and integratedperspectives suggested by the scientific communityenvironment, while the interlinkages with freedom hadbeen highlighted in the earlier Palme and Brandt reports.Such an integrated view was the basis for the agreement onAgenda 21 72 and the 27 Rio Principles 73 at the “EarthSummit” in 1992, which were reconfirmed at the UNConference on Sustainable Development (known as“Rio+20”) in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. 74 The Rio+20 outcomedocument entitled “The future we want” did not only agreeto devise Sustainable Development Goals, but hasnumerous references to integrated approaches.2.1.2. Sustainability science and integrationThe Prototype Global Sustainable Development Report2014 described the evolution of the sustainabledevelopment debate from a primarily political concept tothe emergence of “sustainability science” as a newinterdisciplinary, unified scientific endeavour around theturn of the century, through to scientists becoming one ofthe most prominent groups at the side-events of Rio+20 in2012. In 2014 alone, several tens of thousands ofacademics authored at least 165,000 academic papers thatrefer to sustainable development, according to Googlescholar.2.1.1. UN recognition of inter-linkages and integratedapproachesSince the creation of the United Nations, the world’speoples have aspired to making progress on the greatglobal issues of peace and security, freedom, development,and environment. These issues remain prominentaspirations today. Political leaders and scientists alike havelong acknowledged that these issues are closely inter-linkedand require integrated approaches. 70 High-level panels andcommissions, major documents, and United Nations globalconferences and summits have made a case for suchintegrated perspectives.Already in 1972 at the UN Conference on Environment andDevelopment, the “Stockholm Conference”, Indira Gandhiemphasized the need for integrated action: “Thepopulation explosion; poverty; ignorance and disease, thepollution of our surroundings, the stockpiling of nuclearweapons and biological and chemical agents of destructionare all parts of a vicious circle. Each is important and urgentbut dealing with them one by one would be wasted effort.”Her insight remains as relevant today as then. Similarly, theBrundtland report 71 of 1987 highlighted the need for anintegrated approach to peace, development and40The Brundtland report has been hugely influential indefining “sustainable development” as development thatmeets the needs of the present without compromising theability of future generations to meet their own needs. 75Underlying this definition is an integrated perspective – itrefers to needs in general (all issues, all regions) and equitywithin and across generations.Inspired by the Brundtland definition, scientists haveshaped a wide range of views and definitions of sustainabledevelopment over the years. These definitions werereviewed and categorised by the US National ResearchCouncil in 1999 76 and described further by Kates et al. in2005. 77 According to this review, scientists haveemphasized different elements “to be developed” or “to besustained”. The review suggested six categories: people,economy, and society to be developed, and nature, lifesupport and community to be sustained. Integratedperspectives have been used for various combinations ofissues under these six areas, operating at a wide range ofgeographical and time scales.Scientists’ choices of “systems” have had great influence onthe political debates, too. For example, the debate on the