Next Generation National <scp>SDGs</scp> Assessments: From Progress Reporting to Exploring Policy Pathways and Causal Dynamics

ABSTRACT National efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are falling short of what is needed to meet the transformative agenda. An important implementation gap relates to inadequate national SDGs assessment and reports which have been too descriptive and lacked analytical depth and policy orientation to inform transformative action. This study addresses this gap by presenting the approach and findings from a third generation SDGs assessment for Australia. The approach combines a comprehensive assessment of the evolution of progress on the SDGs, analyses forward‐looking policy pathways, evaluates policy interactions and spillovers and explores causal dynamics and feedbacks that drive diverse outcomes for the SDGs. By synthesising these pieces of analysis, three policy priorities for Australia are identified: (1) Addressing areas of persistent underperformance (poverty and inequality goals) and recent backsliding (health and education goals) where progress is foundational to broader SDGs achievement; (2) Leveraging momentum in the renewable energy transition to catalyse broader systemic shifts in green manufacturing and net zero transitions in hard to abate sectors (e.g., transport, buildings, industry and land‐use) and (3) Building long‐term resilience of SDGs progress and anticipating trade‐offs and reinforcing synergies across the goals. Overall, the study demonstrates a broadly transferable approach for designing national SDGs assessments that inform integrated, forward‐looking strategies and offer a more robust foundation for future policy action. It also offers a timely contribution to emerging discussions around the design of a post‐2030 sustainable development agenda and improvements to national implementation and reporting.