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Image of a collection of national flags. SDG 16 & 17 deep dive

How carbon projects could contribute to global collaboration and partnerships

  • Akina Wong
    Research Associate, Beyond Carbon
  • Torrey Sanseverino
    Senior Research Manager, Beyond Carbon
  • Natural Capital
  • Ratings
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 16 (‘Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions’) & 17 (‘Partnerships for the Goals’) focus on building global peace and cooperation. With ongoing and new violent global conflicts, the urgency to find solutions to avoid further violence and insecurity is higher. These impacts can cause countries to fall behind in achieving other SDGs. Actions addressing SDGs 16 & 17 are needed to build trust and strengthen institutions to secure international justice and cooperation, particularly in low-income countries facing high debts and unstable political governance.

These lofty goals may seem too broad and aspirational for the carbon market to embrace.
Unfortunately, progress towards these goals has slowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. The VCM can, however, contribute to some aspects of SDGs 16 & 17. Measuring these “beyond-carbon” impacts attributed to SDG 16 & 17 targets is abstract and challenging to apply and measure to the VCM.

  • SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) & 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) are the second and third least commonly claimed SDGs in the VCM, respectively. Claims related to these SDGs often raise questions about how projects could contribute to such global, overarching goals.

  • Contrary to popular belief, VCM projects have the potential to positively impact SDG 16 & 17. However, their potential contributions are limited to targets and indicators scalable to the project level, such as those focused on enhancing inclusivity in society and cross-sector partnerships.  

  • On average, less than 10% of credits that claim any SDGs, claim SDG 16 and 17 and this has declined over time (Figure 2). 

  • Less than 40% of projects claim SDG 16 &/or 17, likely because the relevant targets are abstract and thus, challenging to measure. Only 23% of SDG 16 & 17 indicators are scalable to the project level.

Contents

  • SDG 16 & 17 VCM market trends

  • SDG 16 & 17 claims and carbon credit price

  • Carbon projects can have positive impacts on SDG 16 & 17 but are difficult to measure

  • Conclusion

  • Appendix

  • References

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