Desenvolvimento sustentável nos estados brasileiros: uma análise a partir dos ODS e das dimensões da sustentabilidade

Abstract

Cities face several challenges resulting from unplanned growth. In addition, urban centers still suffer from structural problems that permeate society and from environmental damage that reinforces the urgency of more sustainable management. In this context, the 2030 Agenda emerges as a relevant instrument by establishing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which encompass the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The purpose of this global agreement is to ensure that “no one is left behind.” In Brazil, the Sustainable Development Index for Cities (IDSC-BR) constitutes an important tool for monitoring the SDGs, since the analysis of its indicators makes it possible to outline an overview of national performance in relation to the targets of the 2030 Agenda. Thus, this research analyzed the performance of Brazilian states regarding sustainable development, considering the SDGs and the dimensions of sustainability. The adopted methodology is quantitative, descriptive, and applied in nature. Secondary data related to the 17 SDGs and the 5,570 Brazilian municipalities were used and aggregated for the analysis of the 27 states. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and cluster analysis (k-means). The results showed that, in general, SDGs 7, 11, and 12 are more likely to be achieved in the country, while SDGs 9, 14, 15, and 17 are critical in all states. SDG 8 also appears to be challenging in the North and Northeast regions. Overall, the Federal District and São Paulo stand out in achieving the goals and are the only federal units presenting high scores in SDG 14. States in the North and Northeast regions mostly occupy the lowest positions. However, Rio Grande do Norte manages to keep up with the best performances. Even so, no state achieves satisfactory performance considering the overall SDG results. Furthermore, the high standard deviation observed in some states and goals reveals the existence of significant inequalities within the states themselves. Regarding the dimensions of sustainability, the factor analysis demonstrated that the IDSC-BR database is consistent with the literature, as the SDGs were organized into three factors aligned with the sustainability tripod. Cluster analysis, in turn, revealed groupings with strong territorial patterns, indicating that states within the same region are more likely to belong to the same clusters. Finally, the results indicate that the dimensions of sustainability are not fulfilled in a balanced manner. The social dimension tends to present better performance, while the economic dimension appears weakened in most states. These findings reveal territorial inequalities in the achievement of the SDGs and their dimensions, as well as indicating that the goals themselves are not being achieved homogeneously. Therefore, Brazil requires urgent actions directed toward the specificities of each state and the most critical goals.