The Sustainable Development Goals – Sustainable for Whom? : Sweden's acknowledgments, actions, and contradictions regarding its negative spillover effects

Abstract: Sweden is a country that has made significant achievements regarding sustainable development through its implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Regardless of its efforts and leading position in global sustainability work, scholars have pointed out how other countries are negatively affected by its actions. Previous research also emphasized how nega- tive global spillover effects lead to adverse events affecting the world environmentally, socially, and economically. By conducting a qualitative content analysis through the lens of the theoret- ical framework, The Spillover Index, this study aims to shed light on the overlooked negative spillover effects stemming from Sweden's implementation of the SDGs. This paper recognizes the actions and acknowledgments made by Sweden on its negative spillover effects, along with unintended consequences and contradictions. The result of this thesis emphasizes the urgency for a more holistic understanding of sustainability and the SDGs, calling for countries to con- sider when implementing its sustainability work, not only national achievements, and gains but also the extensive impact of its actions in a global context.