A comprehensive global assessment of transboundary river basins indicates these shared water systems confront substantially greater sustainability challenges compared to national water systems, with coordinated action on clean water, economic growth, and health identified as the most effective solution. Published in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, the study found transboundary basins average only 42 out of 100 on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Index scores, markedly below the global national average of 67. Researchers from Nanjing University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Stockholm University developed a novel analytical framework integrating Environmental Gini coefficients, which measure resource inequity, with 98 SDGs indicators to evaluate 310 transboundary basins worldwide.
The analysis uncovered pronounced regional disparities, with African basins scoring as low as 13 while European rivers exceeded 75, revealing a hidden layer of inequality often missed by national statistics. The study categorized basins into four distinct profiles through clustering analysis. Institutional governance basins, such as the Amur and Yukon, possess relatively strong governance but require deeper cooperation. Sustained growth basins like the Niger confront poor water quality, poverty, and significant disease burdens. Inclusive growth basins including the Seine and Rhine–Meuse balance economic strength with environmental pressures, while social coordination basins such as the Amazon and Mekong are highly vulnerable to floods and droughts.
Scenario modeling demonstrated that achieving clean water (SDG 6) alone would bring only 17 basins to sustainability. Combining clean water with economic growth (SDG 8) increases that proportion to 17%, but simultaneously achieving SDGs 3 (health), 6, and 8 could elevate 38% of basins into sustainability. These findings highlight that multi-goal, basin-specific strategies possess far greater potential than isolated interventions. Lead author Yiqi Zhou stressed that single-goal efforts are inadequate for these complex shared systems. The framework offers policymakers a decision-making compass to guide targeted investments in infrastructure, governance reforms, and cross-border agreements. By aligning efforts across clean water, livelihoods, and health, integrated strategies could help mitigate geopolitical tensions, strengthen resilience against climate shocks, and accelerate concurrent progress toward multiple Sustainable Development Goals.


