📌 Policy Brief on “Partnerships (SDG 17) for socially equitable and environmentally sustainable trade” 
📅 Date: 6th & 7th May 2026
🌍 Event: 11^th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum) 
🎤 Authors: Prof. Joyeeta Gupta, Georgios Dikaios, Aljoscha Karg
🔗 More Information: https://www.unssc.org/courses/transforming-economies-sustainable-development-1https://www.oskarvonmillerforum.de/en/event/sharing-our-earth-focus-on-climate/

We’re happy to announce that our very own Georgios Dikaios, Aljoscha Karg and Prof. Joyeeta Gupta have published a policy brief on “Partnerships (SDG 17) for socially equitable and environmentally sustainable trade” for the 11th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum) held on May 6th and 7th.
In this brief, the authors critique Agenda 2030 and, in particular, SDG 17 targets 17.10 and 17.11 for sending “mixed messages” on trade partnerships. While open multilateral trade is promoted, social-ecological limits are ignored. The authors argue that trade is only legitimate if it operates within planetary boundaries and upholds Rio Principles like “no harm” and “polluter pays.”

Furthermore, they argue that the Global North disproportionately benefits from Southern labor and resources while externalizing environmental costs, which undermines rather than advances sustainable development. However, Southern economic autonomy alone is insufficient, as genuine sustainability requires deeper international cooperation to shift toward fairer, less resource-intensive production and consumption.

Finally, it calls for reorienting trade governance toward the international public interest, aligning SDG 17 with planetary boundaries, addressing structural inequalities, and preventing socio-environmental harm.