Growing evidence of the interconnections between modern slavery, environmental degradation, and climate change

The modern slavery-environmental degradation-climate change nexus may threaten the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Globally, approximately 12.2 million workers are entrapped in modern slavery in environmentally degrading activities, and SDG target 8.7 (the elimination of all forms of modern slavery) may be instrumental in accelerating attainment of other SDG targets. However, without appropriate mitigation strategies, the attainment of some of the SDG's environmental targets may also negatively influence progress on 8.7. Unfortunately, these feedbacks are poorly understood and data are limited and difficult to obtain. In this perspective we show how an SDG interaction framework may help overcome these data challenges by signaling how potential policy action and other interventions would influence progress on 8.7 and other environmental targets based on known processes and patterns. This understanding is crucial to move beyond data limitations, direct future research, and develop an often-lacking evidence-base to effect holistic change.

Automated summary

The interplay between modern slavery, environmental degradation, and climate change may pose a threat to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Target 8.7 of the SDGs, which aims to eliminate all forms of modern slavery, could potentially drive progress towards other SDG targets. However, without appropriate mitigation strategies, the attainment of environmental targets within the SDGs may hinder progress on target 8.7.