2016 marked the first year of the Sustainable Development Goals being adopted by the UN Member states, underscored by the Paris Agreement’s commitment to limit global warming. While social media users are looking to their past selves for insight into the future, we in publishing have an equally urgent question: as we stand in 2026, what should we be thinking about for the SDG agenda beyond 2030?
Firstly, we must remind ourselves that the world in 2030 will likely look very different from the one envisioned in 2016. A recent analysis by the United Nations’ 10‑Member Group on Science, Technology and Innovation underscores that the SDGs have over the past 10 years succeeded in giving the world a unified way of discussing our shared challenges. The 17 colourful boxes or wheel can be recognized in every one of the 191 UN members states and across schools, libraries and public spaces. This has helped to create a prioritization of sustainable development focusing our conversations on equality, sustainability and inclusion.
But the same assessment also makes clear that progress has been uneven and that achieving the 2030 targets will be far from automatic. It emphasizes that science, technology and innovation (STI) must be at the core of any effort to accelerate progress, not just in theory, but in real‑world application. Crucially, the analysis points to a gap that extends beyond technological innovation: a need for human‑centred approaches that address behaviour, governance and cultural dynamics. Sustainability isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a societal one. Without understanding how communities receive, interpret, and act on evidence, even the most powerful innovations will struggle to take root.
These insights about the future of the SDGs align closely with the role that all publishers across trade, education and academic can and must play in the post‑2030 era. As curators of evidence and narratives, academic and education publishers are uniquely positioned to bridge the divide between scientific knowledge and public understanding. In trade publishing they can showcase sustainable thinking, give a platform for stories and literature on important issues, and foster the very collaborations that the SDG framework now calls for. Whether through amplifying rigorous research, supporting inclusive storytelling or combating misinformation that undermines trust in science, publishing can help shape a post‑2030 agenda that is more focused, accountable, and adaptable to global complexity.
A powerful example of this commitment can be seen in the International Publishers Association’s ongoing work around the SDGs. It began with a simple but far-reaching question: how can we engage everyone in the SDG agenda, starting with the youngest generations? One answer has been the creation of SDG-themed book clubs for children. This initiative was designed to spark curiosity, empathy, and action around global challenges. By introducing young readers to stories about climate change, social equity, and sustainability, these programs help nurture a generation that understands the world’s interconnectedness and feels empowered to contribute to solutions.
What started as a global SDG Book Club has since inspired the launch of multiple local chapters, demonstrating how countries can adapt the framework to their own cultural contexts. Chapters have emerged across Africa and in countries including Portugal, Brazil, Norway, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and Germany, showing how national publishing communities can take ownership of the agenda, mobilize local partners, and reach new audiences.
But supporting the SDGs is not limited to children’s publishing. It also requires industry-wide commitment. Here, the SDG Publishers Compact remains a cornerstone of collective action, inviting publishers to reaffirm their dedication to prioritizing sustainable development across their operations and editorial strategies. By signing the Compact, members publicly commit to integrating the SDGs into publishing decisions, corporate practices, and outreach—helping to galvanize momentum and sustain impact over time.
Equally important is creating spaces for ongoing dialogue within the publishing ecosystem itself. International book fairs this year are more than marketplaces, they are vital forums for discussion about sustainable development, knowledge sharing, and the role of publishing in shaping society. These events provide publishers, educators, librarians, and thought leaders with the opportunity to exchange ideas, showcase innovative content, and ensure that the conversation about SDGs remains active, inclusive, and forward-looking. Each year the annual Sustainability Summit in Frankfurt shows how collective action and dialogue can help move this agenda.
In this way, the task before us isn’t simply to extend the SDGs, but to rearticulate a vision of sustainable development that is robust in evidence, equitable in impact, and compelling in narrative—one that publishing is uniquely equipped to help realize.