Dutch SDG Barometer 2024: Progress Amidst Challenges in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

The Dutch SDG Barometer 2024 reveals a nuanced perspective on sustainability progress in the Netherlands. While awareness of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains high among Dutch organisations, significant challenges persist in their prioritisation, implementation and measurement.

This second edition of the SDG Barometer, developed collaboratively by Amsterdam School of International Business (AMSIB), Maastricht School of Management (MSM), and TIAS School for Business and Society, builds on its 2022 debut. It provides valuable insights into the adoption of the SDGs, showcasing both encouraging trends and persistent barriers as the 2030 deadline approaches.

Key Findings from the Dutch SDG Barometer 2024

1. Sustainability Awareness: Nearly 70% of organisations in the Netherlands claim to prioritise sustainability, a steady trend from 2022. However, only 15% have fully integrated SDGs into their sustainability strategies.
2. Framework Competition: While the SDG framework remains widely used, mandatory EU guidelines such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are starting to surpass the SDGs in usage, raising concerns about a ‘crowding-out effect.’
3. Obstacles Persist: Resource constraints and knowledge gaps remain the top barriers to SDG implementation, though awareness and understanding of the goals have improved since 2022.
4. Communication Decline: The number of organisations not communicating internally (31%) or externally (30%) about their SDG efforts has risen sharply, reflecting a potential de-prioritisation.
5. Government Role: A majority of respondents (55%) believe government support for SDG adoption is insufficient, while a consistent 80% of organisations agree that the government should play an active role in encouraging SDG adoption.
6. Sectoral Insights: Educational institutions lead in SDG awareness, while not-for-profits and governmental bodies show varying levels of alignment. Corporate participation, though significant, often lacks depth in SDG integration.

A Call to Action

Despite these challenges, the report highlights promising developments in SDG adoption and alignment. Partnerships with governments, educational institutions, and NGOs are on the rise, showcasing a growing recognition of the need for collective action. Organisations increasingly acknowledge the SDGs as essential for tackling global challenges such as climate change and economic inequality. However, progress is lagging, and more robust cross-sector collaboration and clearer policy frameworks are needed to keep the momentum alive.

To align with the transformative vision of the 2030 Agenda, the report emphasises the urgency for a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to sustainability. This includes leveraging the SDGs as a universal framework while adapting to the unique needs of various sectors.

Recommendations for Accelerated Progress

1. Government Leadership: Establish clear long-term policies and incentives to align public and private efforts with the SDGs.
2. Focused Strategies: Encourage organisations to prioritise specific SDGs that align closely with their core operations to achieve more tangible outcomes.
3. Impact Measurement: Develop and promote context-specific, practical tools to measure contributions to the SDGs effectively.
4. Enhanced Communication: Foster stronger internal and external dialogue to embed sustainability into organisational cultures and improve transparency.

About the Dutch SDG Barometer 2024

The Dutch SDG Barometer is a biennial study that monitors the awareness, adoption, and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals among organisations in the Netherlands (companies, educational institutions, governmental organizations and non-profit organizations). Conducted by three international business schools: AMSIB, MSM, and TIAS, the SDG Barometer provides a comprehensive analysis of progress and actionable insights to advance SDG initiatives across the Netherlands.

The full report can be downloaded HERE