Publish your SDG research as a Springer Nature book

Author: Éva Lőrinczi and Sofia Costa

Your research related to the Sustainable Development Goals can impact policy and support efforts to achieve sustainable development. Publishing it as a book is one of the most impactful ways you can disseminate your insights and findings. In this post, Book Editors Sofia Costa and Éva Lőrinczi explain the benefits of publishing an SDG book and the advantages of publishing it open access and share some insight on what you can expect when you publish your SDG book with Springer Nature.

We’re well past the halfway mark toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline, yet at the moment the Goals are not on track to be achieved by their 2030 deadline. However, commitment to the Goals remains strong. The 2025 Sustainable Development Report, the global assessment of countries' progress towards achieving the SDGs, reported that 190 out of 193 countries have presented national action plans for advancing sustainable development.  

Springer Nature is committed to supporting the SDGs. The SDGs provide a necessary framework to promote and work together towards sustainable development. And as a global academic publisher, a central contribution we can make is by publishing research related to the SDGs and amplifying it to reach far and wide, and serve to support the Goals and their targets.  

This research is essential to creating change. Reliable evidence is the basis of effective policymaking, and research on the SDGs impacts the Goals.  

Publishing and amplifying research that supports sustainable development

On the Springer Nature Sustainable Development Goals Programme hub you can browse a wealth of publications relating to the SDGs, along with other news and insights. Beyond this dedicated and evolving space, SDG publications are highlighted on Springer Nature’s platforms: from SDG badges for journals publishing extensively on the SDGs to SDG tags on Research Communities’ posts. And on Springer Nature Link, where you can access Springer Nature’s online collection of journals, eBooks, reference works, and protocols across a broad range of disciplines, you will find a dedicated search function for the SDGs, to filter your results by Goals.

Indeed, there are various publication options for SDG research at Springer Nature. Publishing your SDG research as a book is one of the most impactful ways you can disseminate your insights and findings relating to the Goals and their subject matters. 

"Books are a medium made for the SDGs, contributing to effectively addressing them, and even more so if published open access." 

Christina M. Brian, Vice President Books, and a member of the Springer Nature SDG Steering Group 

Why publish your SDG research as a book?

The SDGs cover an array of interconnected, complex challenges facing humanity. Which is why research on the SDGs can benefit from being published as a book, a medium that has the breadth and scope to cover such topic.

A book has the span to hold the in-depth overview required to holistically address issues relating to the SDGs. It offers the freedom to combine theoretical frameworks with practical insights, creating a resource that can meaningfully impact discourse and practice. 

By offering accessible, in-depth insights and practical guidance, often supported by real-world analyses and examples, books on the SDGs are especially relevant for policymakers and practitioners. This format is often more widely distributed and trusted, and can support policy development over time.

Open access books deliver real impact on the SDGs 

Books covering SDG research and published open access (OA) contribute to effectively addressing the SDGs. OA gives these books enhanced visibility and accessibility, which means that their findings and recommendations can be harnessed for actionable strategies on the SDGs.

OA books have 2.4 times more citations, 10 times more downloads, and 10 times more online mentions than non-OA books on average. They also have a more geographically diverse readership, reaching on average 61% more countries than non-OA books, most of which are underrepresented in global scholarship.

You can find more support for publishing an OA book with the OAPEN Open Access Books Toolkit, which offers a wealth of information to give you clarity and depth on OA books publishing.

“Springer Nature’s Sustainable Development Goals Series has developed into the most comprehensive research library on the SDGs. The inherently transdisciplinary nature of the SDGs is well reflected in the series, with its broad remit and contributions welcome from scientists, academics, policymakers, and researchers.” 

Rachael Ballard, Editorial Director, Palgrave Macmillan and Zachary Romano, Senior Publishing Editor, Springer 

The Sustainable Development Goals Series: A home for your SDG book 

A book series dedicated to the SDGs is a natural home for your SDG book. Springer Nature’s Sustainable Development Goals Series is just that: A series of books focused on interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research related to the SDGs.

When you publish your work in the Sustainable Development Goals Series, it enjoys an exceptionally broad reach to readership interested in the SDGs, well beyond your own discipline. Published alongside SDG-related research in a dedicated series increases its credibility and impact.

Because the Sustainable Development Goals Series intends to share research that is not only academically rigorous but also policy-relevant, your work stands to achieve real-world impact and generate engagement with audiences that can use it and rely on it.

You can choose to publish your book open access in the Sustainable Development Goals Series, which makes perfect sense because this format is made of SDG research. It means that anyone, anywhere can access your book in support of the SDGs.  

Things to consider when planning your SDG book 

Here are some recommendations for things to consider for your SDG book:

1. Consider your audience and write effectively: Keep in mind the broader audience you want to reach, specifically policymakers and practitioners. Including a summary of key points for practitioners in each chapter or throughout the book could be particularly appealing to these readers.  
2. Align with the SDG framework: Use or reference the language and indicators used in the SDGs to create affinity and clearly reflect relevance to the Goals.  
3. Emphasise interconnectedness: Recognise the interaction between the various Goals, as well as potential synergies or incompatibilities when pursuing certain policies.  
4. Implementation and long-term outlook: Consider strategies for implementation of recommendations or suggestions, possible contextual challenges, and potentially evolving priorities.  
5. Consider publishing your book open access: Open access can make a huge difference, with 61% more countries reached and a sriking increase in access and visibility. Open access books have 2.4 times more citations, 10 times more downloads, and 10 times more online mentions than non-OA books on average. Funding may be available from your organisation or a government group. Get help with funding. 
6. Consider publishing in a book series: Being part of a book series from a Springer Nature imprint such as Springer or Palgrave Macmillan gets your book the attention it deserves. 

For general information on the book publishing process, explore this detailed step-by-step guide.

Learn more about publishing a book with Springer Nature, including a step-by-step guide to walk you through the entire book publication journey. And once you’re ready, share your idea with a publishing editor.

Related content: 

• Publishing a Book: Understanding the Options 
• Prepare and submit your book proposal: What you need to know
• Navigating open access book publishing with the OAPEN Toolkit
• Open access books: Making SDG research impactful 
• The SDG Book Series: Interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research
• SDG books that drive change: Highlights of the last 10 years

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