Creating a Common Language: How Does the Sustainable Infrastructure Criteria Compare to the SDGs?

Sustainable infrastructure (SI) is of central importance to achieve the 2030 UN Development Agenda and to secure strong and sustainable growth. The access to basic services such as good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG4), clean water and sanitation (SDG6), and affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), can only be achieved by environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable infrastructure projects. Despite the importance infrastructure plays in achieving sustainable growth and development, there is no clear understanding of how well-known sustainable infrastructure tools such as Envision rating system relate to the SDGs. Therefore, this paper provides a cross-comparative analysis between the Envision rating system criterion and the SDG targets to understand the overlaps and key difference, as well as the potential synergies. According to the analysis, out of the 169 total targets in which the 17 SDGs are divided, 67 of them were identified to be in alignment with the Envision rating system. From the 67 related SDG targets, 34 were identified as having a direct alignment with Envision, while 33 were determined as having an indirect correlation.