Behavioural responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and their implications for Sustainable Development Goals in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the nexus between behaviours, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and the behavioural changes induced by the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. Through an extensive review of 208 written sources spanning March 2020 to July 2021, the study analyses how the pandemic has affected the progress and relevance of the SDG targets in the city. Using UN-provided SDG indicators, the study evaluates the written accounts of behavioural change and establishes the linkages between them and the SDGs. Saaty’s Analytical Hierarchy Process was applied to rank 75 SDG sub-targets according to their importance and urgency in Hong Kong’s pandemic context. Notably, four SDGs stand out among the top 15: SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG1 (No Poverty), and SDG10 (Reduced Inequalities), reflecting the significant challenges and opportunities for public health, the economy, vulnerable communities, and environmental sustainability in Hong Kong. The paper provides a comprehensive framework for developing post-pandemic strategies to address the city’s SDG targets. It also offers valuable insights into health, consumption, social and environmental engagement, quality of life, and institutions and organisations for policymakers and stakeholders involved in Hong Kong’s pandemic recovery and sustainable development efforts.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• Sustainable Development Goals
• Hong Kong
• human behaviours
• social psychology

This article is related to:

Research for city practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the The Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation of Hong Kong.

Notes on contributors

Olivia Anne D. Perez

The authors of this paper are researchers from the Division of Environment and Sustainability (ENVR) of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The study was conducted as part of a larger project entitled “What matters most? How COVID-19 may help re-align Hongkongers values and motivations towards sustainability”, a joint endeavor by HKUST ENVR and the HKUST Institute for the Environment, and funded by the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation.