Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (776 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development; and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations. (http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-02.htm#I)
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Developments, Sustainable; Development, Sustainable; Sustainable Development Goals; Development Goals, Sustainable; Development Goal, Sustainable; Sustainable Development Goal; Smart Growth.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Public Policy; Conservation of Natural Resources
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 5,417 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Sustainable Development” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 4,728 of them (87.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2020 onward with 4,728 records.
Reviews account for 873 records (16.1%) and meta-analyses for 12. Randomized controlled trials number 2 (0.0%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 0 |
| 2000-2009 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 730 |
| 2020 onward | 4,728 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 873 | 16.1% |
| Meta-analyses | 12 | 0.2% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 2 | 0.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Sustainable Development"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in public health and nutrition
Population and nutrition studies mostly observe what people eat, breathe or are exposed to and then look for links with health, which shows association and not proof of cause. Self-reported diet is imprecise, people who eat or live differently also differ in other ways, and effects measured across a population may not apply to one person. Check the study design, how exposure was measured, what else was accounted for and the size of the effect, not only whether it was statistically significant.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainable development goals (SDGs) and resilient healthcare systems: Addressing medicine and public health challenges in conflict zones | 2025 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 13 | cc by PMID 39960902 · DOI · PMC11835129 |
| The system of radiological protection and the UN sustainable development goals | 2024 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 9 | cc by PMID 39254690 · DOI · PMC11588841 |
| Toward including environmental sustainability in Health Technology Assessment | 2025 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 9 | cc by PMID 40976996 · DOI · PMC12516604 |
| Technostress, digital fatigue, and AI dependency as antecedents of burnout and SDG-4 achievement in EFL classrooms | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 5 | cc by PMID 41922549 · DOI · PMC13184225 |
Sustainable development goals (SDGs) and resilient healthcare systems: Addressing medicine and public health challenges in conflict zones [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- This review explores the integration of sustainable development goals (SDGs) into healthcare organizations in conflict zones, with a specific focus on emergent models aimed at improving population health.
- Closing excerpt
- This review highlights the need for monitoring and evaluation to assess intervention effectiveness and advocacy efforts to ensure that interventions supported and advocated by the international community are creating successful outcomes towards the SDG goals and improving population health in post conflict settings.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (196 words)
This review explores the integration of sustainable development goals (SDGs) into healthcare organizations in conflict zones, with a specific focus on emergent models aimed at improving population health. The primary objective is to examine how innovative approaches such as telemedicine, mobile health clinics, and community health worker initiatives can be aligned with SDG targets, thereby enhancing healthcare outcomes in conflict-affected regions. The review focuses on the important areas of concern which encompasses technology, infrastructure, community engagement, and social/psychological factors. Particularly, strategies of improving existing technologies such as electronic health records and mobile health applications, enhancing health systems and community-based interventions, and integrating of mental health services are highlighted. Other focal points include advancing better water, sanitation and hygienic practices, sustainable water resource management, and other alternative financing mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships. Integrating these strategies are closely linked with the active participation of international, local governments, and affected communities in their effective implementation. This review highlights the need for monitoring and evaluation to assess intervention effectiveness and advocacy efforts to ensure that interventions supported and advocated by the international community are creating successful outcomes towards the SDG goals and improving population health in post conflict settings.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 39960902 · DOI · PMC11835129
The system of radiological protection and the UN sustainable development goals [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- In 2015 the United Nations issued 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing a wide range of global social, economic, and environmental challenges.
- Closing excerpt
- A few examples are given of how this could be realised, and it is proposed that this issue should be discussed and developed together with the international community interested in radiological protection.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (157 words)
In 2015 the United Nations issued 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) addressing a wide range of global social, economic, and environmental challenges. The main goal of this paper is to provide an understanding of how the current System of Radiological Protection relates to these SDGs. In the first part it is proposed that the current System of Radiological Protection is implicitly linked to sustainable development. This is substantiated by analysing the features of the current System as set out by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in its publications. In the second part it is proposed that sustainability should be considered and more explicitly addressed in the next ICRP general recommendations, as part of the currently ongoing review and revision of the current System. A few examples are given of how this could be realised, and it is proposed that this issue should be discussed and developed together with the international community interested in radiological protection.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 39254690 · DOI · PMC11588841
Toward including environmental sustainability in Health Technology Assessment [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionThe life cycle of health technologies contribute to air pollution, ecotoxicity, and resource depletion, impacting the environment and human health.
- Closing excerpt
- The report provides a path for the way forward for incorporating environmental sustainability into HTA based on broad perspectives from global multistakeholders.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (234 words)
IntroductionThe life cycle of health technologies contribute to air pollution, ecotoxicity, and resource depletion, impacting the environment and human health. Increasing healthcare resource use globally increases emissions that accelerate climate change and negatively affect the health of current and future generations.Health Technology Assessment (HTA) should inform decision makers to prioritize the adoption of technologies demonstrating value in terms of health benefits, costs, and other relevant dimensions such as environmental sustainability.This paper reports on a multistakeholder approach to guiding an international working group for Environmental Sustainability in Health Technology Assessment (ESHTA) that has been formed by Health Technology Assessment international.MethodsA multistakeholder online workshop was held with 32 participants in May 2024 to define the critical issues to be considered. The resulting report underwent consultation among the ESHTA members and in a broader group of 90 additional worldwide stakeholder representatives.ResultsThe workshop participants recognized defining frameworks, mechanisms, and tools for embedding environmental sustainability into HTA as an opportunity to support sustainable development and quality improvement in healthcare. Achieving this requires (1) consensus on what environmental sustainability in healthcare means, (2) reconcilement with other healthcare and environmental policies, and (3) methods that are useful and applicable within HTA frameworks.ConclusionThis novel collaboration aims to align the global HTA community on the role of environmental sustainability in HTA. The report provides a path for the way forward for incorporating environmental sustainability into HTA based on broad perspectives from global multistakeholders.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40976996 · DOI · PMC12516604
Technostress, digital fatigue, and AI dependency as antecedents of burnout and SDG-4 achievement in EFL classrooms [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- This study examines the impact of digital stressors (technostress, digital fatigue, AI dependency) on digital burnout and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) achievement among Chinese and international EFL learners, investigating the mediating roles of foreign language anxiety and the moderating effect of technology self-efficacy.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings offer imperative implications for developing tailored pedagogical interventions that leverage self-efficacy training and differentiated support systems to foster more equitable and sustainable digital learning ecosystems for diverse student populations.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (189 words)
This study examines the impact of digital stressors (technostress, digital fatigue, AI dependency) on digital burnout and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) achievement among Chinese and international EFL learners, investigating the mediating roles of foreign language anxiety and the moderating effect of technology self-efficacy. Using a cross-sectional survey design with n = 545 university students, we employed structural equation modeling (SEM) and multigroup analysis (MGA) to test the hypothesized relationships. The findings confirm a significant sequential pathway where digital stressors increase foreign language anxiety, which subsequently exacerbates digital burnout, ultimately impairing SDG achievement. Crucially, technology self-efficacy served as a vital buffer, significantly weakening the negative impact of burnout on learning outcomes. Multigroup analysis revealed these effects were significantly stronger for international students, who also demonstrated higher vulnerability to digital stressors but benefited more from self-efficacy. The study's novelty lies in its integrated model that uncovers the psychological mechanisms translating digital challenges into educational outcomes, while highlighting crucial cross-cultural variations. These findings offer imperative implications for developing tailored pedagogical interventions that leverage self-efficacy training and differentiated support systems to foster more equitable and sustainable digital learning ecosystems for diverse student populations.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41922549 · DOI · PMC13184225
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development [5]
- Research article The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health: vision beyond 2020 [6]
- Research article Genetic strategies for improving crop yields [7]
- Research article A 20-year retrospective review of global aquaculture [8]
- Research article Social determinants of mental disorders and the Sustainable Development Goals: a systematic review of reviews [9]
- Research article Developing fibrillated cellulose as a sustainable technological material [10]
References
- Ugwu CN, Ugwu OP, Alum EU, Eze VHU, Basajja M, Ugwu JN, et al.. Sustainable development goals (SDGs) and resilient healthcare systems: Addressing medicine and public health challenges in conflict zones. . 2025. PMID 39960902 · DOI · PMC11835129
- Rühm W, Applegate K, Bochud F, Laurier D, Schneider T, Bouffler S, et al.. The system of radiological protection and the UN sustainable development goals. . 2024. PMID 39254690 · DOI · PMC11588841
- Holtorf AP, Pegg M, Mueller D, McMeekin N, Environmental Sustainability in HTA Working Group of HTAi (ESHTA). Toward including environmental sustainability in Health Technology Assessment. . 2025. PMID 40976996 · DOI · PMC12516604
- Honggang W, Khoso AK, Althubyani AR. Technostress, digital fatigue, and AI dependency as antecedents of burnout and SDG-4 achievement in EFL classrooms. . 2026. PMID 41922549 · DOI · PMC13184225
- Patel V, Saxena S, Lund C, Thornicroft G, Baingana F, Bolton P, et al.. The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development. Lancet. 2018. PMID 30314863 · DOI
- Burton MJ, Ramke J, Marques AP, Bourne RRA, Congdon N, Jones I, et al.. The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health: vision beyond 2020. Lancet Glob Health. 2021. PMID 33607016 · DOI · PMC7966694
- Bailey-Serres J, Parker JE, Ainsworth EA, Oldroyd GED, Schroeder JI. Genetic strategies for improving crop yields. Nature. 2019. PMID 31695205 · DOI · PMC7024682
- Naylor RL, Hardy RW, Buschmann AH, Bush SR, Cao L, Klinger DH, et al.. A 20-year retrospective review of global aquaculture. Nature. 2021. PMID 33762770 · DOI
- Lund C, Brooke-Sumner C, Baingana F, Baron EC, Breuer E, Chandra P, et al.. Social determinants of mental disorders and the Sustainable Development Goals: a systematic review of reviews. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018. PMID 29580610 · DOI
- Li T, Chen C, Brozena AH, Zhu JY, Xu L, Driemeier C, et al.. Developing fibrillated cellulose as a sustainable technological material. Nature. 2021. PMID 33536649 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.