Health and well-being have a central role in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) endorsed by the United Nations, emphasizing the integral part they play in building a sustainable future. The third SDG explicitly calls for ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. This goal encompasses a wide range of health objectives, from reducing maternal and child mortality rates, combatting disease epidemics, to improving mental health and well-being. But beyond SDG 3, health is intrinsically linked with almost all the other goals.
When addressing SDG 1, which aims to end poverty, one cannot neglect the social determinants of health. Economic hardship often translates into poor nutrition, inadequate housing, and limited access to health care, leading to a vicious cycle of poverty and poor health. Similarly, achieving SDG 2, ending hunger, also contributes to better health through adequate nutrition, essential for physical and mental development and the prevention of various diseases.
Conversely, the repercussions of climate change, encapsulated in SDG 13, profoundly impact health. Rising global temperatures can lead to increased spread of infectious diseases, compromised food and water supplies, and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, all posing severe health risks. Conversely, the promotion of good health can also mitigate climate change through the reduction of carbon-intensive lifestyles and adoption of healthier, more sustainable behaviors.
SDG 5, advocating for gender equality, also has substantial health implications. Ensuring women's access to sexual and reproductive health services not only improves their health outcomes, but also contributes to societal and economic development. Furthermore, achieving SDG 4, quality education, is also critical for health promotion. Education fosters health literacy, empowering individuals to make informed health decisions, hence improving overall community health.
Lastly, SDG 17 underlines the importance of partnerships for achieving these goals. Multi-sector collaboration is vital to integrate health considerations into all policies and practices. Stakeholders from various sectors, including health, education, agriculture, finance, and urban planning, need to align their efforts in creating sustainable environments that foster health and well-being.
Hence, the relationship between health, well-being, and the SDGs is reciprocal. Improving health and well-being helps in achieving sustainable development, and vice versa. In this context, health and well-being are not just outcomes but are also powerful enablers of sustainable development. For the world to truly thrive, it must recognize and act upon these interconnections.
An estimated 1.3 billion people around the world live with a significant disability - that’s 1 in 6 of us.
Each year on 3 December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) highlights the importance of advancing the rights, well-being and full inclusion of persons with disabilities in every aspect of society.
To mark this important day, Elsevier has curated a free-to-access special collection featuring the latest research and insights, now available on the RELX SDG Resource Centre. Explore the collection.
This study explored mental health understanding and experiences within the Bangladeshi Deaf community, aiming to co-develop culturally and linguistically appropriate digital mental health tools.
Climate Change and Disability: A Collaborative Approach to a Sustainable, Inclusive Future for All 2026, pp 45-48
This chapter highlights how climate change intensifies health challenges and resource access barriers for women with disabilities, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by emphasizing the need for inclusive decision-making to improve health outcomes and ensure equitable access to rights.
Climate Change and Disability: A Collaborative Approach to a Sustainable, Inclusive Future for All 2026, pp 77-84
This chapter underscores how climate change amplifies health risks and systemic barriers for children, especially those with special health care needs, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by addressing health vulnerabilities, SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through calls for inclusive policies, and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by advocating disability-inclusive climate adaptation and resilience strategies.
