Assessing progress toward sustainable development in China and its impact on human well-being

The rising call for prioritizing specific sustainable development goals (SDGs) over holistic SDG achievement may worsen development imbalances and limit the enhancement of human well-being. It is essential to assess the progress and evenness of SDGs across time and space, as well as their impact on human well-being. Here, we assessed 16 SDGs for 31 provinces in China over the period 2000–2020, evaluated the SDG index (SDGI) and SDG evenness (SDGE), and explored the impact of SDGE and GDP on human well-being in terms of basic needs, security needs, and spiritual needs. Our findings indicate improvements in both SDGI and SDGE at the national and provincial levels. Most provinces witnessed progress across the majority of SDGs, except SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production). Over the past two decades, eastern China consistently exhibited a higher SDGI compared to western China. However, the region demonstrating the best SDGE performance gradually shifted from the eastern coastal region to northern China. SDGs 1 (no poverty), 3 (good health and well-being), 8 (decent work and economic growth), and 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions) made significant contributions to the enhancement of SDGI and SDGE. Furthermore, economic development and the improvement of SDGE significantly influenced human well-being, albeit with some variations. Both of them positively affected health but also exacerbated environmental challenges. For gender equality, SDGE had a positive impact, while GDP had a negative influence. To achieve sustainable development, it is imperative to promote the decoupling of development from resource consumption and environmental pollution. Additionally, comprehensive measures should be implemented to enhance the equity and inclusiveness of economic development outcomes. This study contributes to the comprehensive achievement of the SDGs and serves as a valuable reference for assessing sustainable development paths and optimizing development patterns globally.