PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as a global imperative, uniting efforts to preserve the environment and economic stability. However, global disparities persist in terms of progress towards the SDGs, with some regions making significant strides in the environment and economy while others may face obstacles. These issues necessitate sustained focus and the application of innovative approaches for resolution. This research, therefore, explores trends and challenges across four economic development categories, ranging from high-income to low-income, in their quest to achieve the SDGs. Employing econometric regression, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and the fuzzy graph technique, this research analyses eight pivotal variables, namely poverty, unemployment, literacy among youth, undernourishment, food insecurity, electricity availability, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This investigation seeks to unveil the pivotal determinants and causal factors impacting a nation’s progress in achieving SDGs by utilising empirical data spanning the years 1998 to 2021 from 215 nations worldwide. The findings reveal that high-income and upper-middle-income economies face issues related to CO₂ and GHG emissions, respectively. Meanwhile, lower-middle and low-income economies struggle with unemployment and food insecurity, respectively. This research provides valuable insights for decision-makers and policymakers to identify the important areas in addressing goal development disparities and emphasises the role of tailored policies and global collaboration in advancing sustainable development. Additionally, the nation can develop an effective mitigation plan, particularly on climate resilience, since it has been a concerning issue among the income economies and requires constructive resources and support.

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