Aligning NCEA with the Sustainable Development Goals

Challenge

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were published in 2015 and are a recognised policy framework that can be used as a ‘common language to communicate outcomes globally and place them in context.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) commits to SDG Goals 14 and 15. This visionary approach focuses on safeguarding both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, marking a critical step towards global sustainability.

In our pursuit of success, it is essential to tap into our creativity and imagination to address the challenges and opportunities presented by these goals.

Solution

Kicking off with an introductory workshop, we delved into how Methods’ cutting-edge Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Impact Transparency service would be leveraged to analyse and assess the impact of the NCEA programme against the 17 SDGs in order to enhance Defra’s environmental initiatives and transform how we measure and achieve environmental impact. This unique approach draws on a number of techniques, including an analysis of the benefits and the expected outcomes of change, in order to best measure the SDG contribution.

We went on to formulate subtle improvement strategies aimed at achieving even better social, economic, and environmental outcomes, as well as quick-win enhancements - decisions that were able to be implemented immediately.

Defra has embraced SDG Impact Transparency and this has the potential to serve as an inspiration for other Government departments to adopt this as a mainstream approach.

Impact

1. NCEA programme performs exceptionally well against numerous SDGs, notably achieving positive impacts on 11 SDG targets related to Life on Land (SDG 15) and Life Below Water (SDG 14), which align with Defra's own objectives.

2. Additionally, it positively contributes to 31 other SDG targets, demonstrating benefits that extend beyond the initially defined scope.

3. Through the implementation of 21 subtle enhancements, Defra have the potential to generate positive impacts on 69 SDG targets, thereby fostering improved social, economic, and environmental outcomes.

4. This initiative also catalysed important changes in working arrangements. The result of this was that alternative patterns of work were offered, encouraging greater women participation in Leadership and Research roles, contributing to a specific target under SDG 5 Gender equality.