Review of Governing Through Goals: Sustainable Development Goals as Governance Innovation, Edited by Norichika Kanie and Frank Biermann

Abstract

This article reviews the volume 'Governing through Goals', edited by Norichika Kanie and Frank Biermann (MIT Press 2017). The book represents a commendable attempt at unpacking the complex governance issues surrounding the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in an exhaustive yet accessible manner. It looks at the multi-faceted governance dimension of the SDGs through a three-pronged approach. First, it seeks to introduce and describe the central characteristics of goal-setting in global governance and its main opportunities and pitfalls as a governance strategy. Secondly, it asks what can be learned from earlier experiences of global goal-setting and what governance arrangements can ensure a more effective implementation of the SDGs. Finally, it focuses on the key outstanding challenges for the operationalization of the goals.

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals, Global Governance, Goal-Setting, 2030 Agenda, Governance Innovation