Impacts of government attention on achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from China

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are crucial in tackling the sustainability challenges and emerging issues faced by humanity, with government attention being a significant factor in promoting their successful achievement. However, there is limited quantitative research systematically examini...

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Main Authors: Chenggang Li, Ziling Chen, Qutu Jiang, Mu Yue, Liang Wu, Youhui Bao, Bei Huang, Alexander Boxuan Wang, Yuanyuan Tan, Zhenci Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Geography and Sustainability
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666683924000853
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author Chenggang Li
Ziling Chen
Qutu Jiang
Mu Yue
Liang Wu
Youhui Bao
Bei Huang
Alexander Boxuan Wang
Yuanyuan Tan
Zhenci Xu
author_facet Chenggang Li
Ziling Chen
Qutu Jiang
Mu Yue
Liang Wu
Youhui Bao
Bei Huang
Alexander Boxuan Wang
Yuanyuan Tan
Zhenci Xu
author_sort Chenggang Li
collection DOAJ
description The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are crucial in tackling the sustainability challenges and emerging issues faced by humanity, with government attention being a significant factor in promoting their successful achievement. However, there is limited quantitative research systematically examining the impacts of government attention on SDGs progress. This study employs text analysis and a panel regression model to analyze the impacts of government attention intensity, text similarity, and tone on the achievement of SDGs, utilizing data extracted from China’s Government Work Reports spanning the decade from 2010 to 2020. The findings reveal that the Chinese government attention to the SDGs has generally increased over time. The heightened focus has notably bolstered the achievement of the SDGs, with the most significant impact observed post-2015. Government attention intensity was identified as the most impactful factor. Moreover, government attention intensity, text similarity, and tone have positively influenced the coupling coordination relationship between 17 SDGs, as measured by the coupling coordination degree, leading to a more harmonious and balanced achievement of socioeconomic and environmental goals in China. Financial investment served as a moderating factor, enhancing the positive impacts of attention intensity, text similarity and tone on the promotion of SDGs attainment. The effects of government attention on SDGs progress were notably positive in the eastern region, exhibiting greater significance in areas with stronger governance capacity compared to those with weaker governance capacity. This study provides insightful information for enhancing the modernization and efficiency of China’s national governance system, promoting SDGs at local and global scales, and fostering sustainable transformation.
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spelling doaj-art-da186b7b62af4cd4b35fd8cdc84986b22025-08-20T03:17:47ZengElsevierGeography and Sustainability2666-68392025-04-016210023310.1016/j.geosus.2024.08.011Impacts of government attention on achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from ChinaChenggang Li0Ziling Chen1Qutu Jiang2Mu Yue3Liang Wu4Youhui Bao5Bei Huang6Alexander Boxuan Wang7Yuanyuan Tan8Zhenci Xu9School of Big Data Application and Economics, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang 550025, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaDepartment of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China; Corresponding author.School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637371, SingaporeSchool of Economics and Management, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaSchool of Big Data Application and Economics, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang 550025, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coast & Island Development the Ministry of Education, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaHigh School, Shanghai American School Pudong Campus, Shanghai 201201, ChinaSchool of Foreign Languages, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang 550025, ChinaDepartment of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, ChinaThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are crucial in tackling the sustainability challenges and emerging issues faced by humanity, with government attention being a significant factor in promoting their successful achievement. However, there is limited quantitative research systematically examining the impacts of government attention on SDGs progress. This study employs text analysis and a panel regression model to analyze the impacts of government attention intensity, text similarity, and tone on the achievement of SDGs, utilizing data extracted from China’s Government Work Reports spanning the decade from 2010 to 2020. The findings reveal that the Chinese government attention to the SDGs has generally increased over time. The heightened focus has notably bolstered the achievement of the SDGs, with the most significant impact observed post-2015. Government attention intensity was identified as the most impactful factor. Moreover, government attention intensity, text similarity, and tone have positively influenced the coupling coordination relationship between 17 SDGs, as measured by the coupling coordination degree, leading to a more harmonious and balanced achievement of socioeconomic and environmental goals in China. Financial investment served as a moderating factor, enhancing the positive impacts of attention intensity, text similarity and tone on the promotion of SDGs attainment. The effects of government attention on SDGs progress were notably positive in the eastern region, exhibiting greater significance in areas with stronger governance capacity compared to those with weaker governance capacity. This study provides insightful information for enhancing the modernization and efficiency of China’s national governance system, promoting SDGs at local and global scales, and fostering sustainable transformation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666683924000853Government attentionSustainable developmentCoupling coordinationText analysisFinancial investmentSDG
spellingShingle Chenggang Li
Ziling Chen
Qutu Jiang
Mu Yue
Liang Wu
Youhui Bao
Bei Huang
Alexander Boxuan Wang
Yuanyuan Tan
Zhenci Xu
Impacts of government attention on achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from China
Geography and Sustainability
Government attention
Sustainable development
Coupling coordination
Text analysis
Financial investment
SDG
title Impacts of government attention on achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from China
title_full Impacts of government attention on achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from China
title_fullStr Impacts of government attention on achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from China
title_full_unstemmed Impacts of government attention on achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from China
title_short Impacts of government attention on achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from China
title_sort impacts of government attention on achieving sustainable development goals evidence from china
topic Government attention
Sustainable development
Coupling coordination
Text analysis
Financial investment
SDG
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666683924000853
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