Analyses of the balance of research effort and attention can reveal disparities in different subject areas. Here, we take a closer look at one area that is not receiving as much attention as expected: industrial pollution. This oversight is concerning since it may impede progress across multiple SDGs.
Industry has a pivotal part to play in meeting net zero targets. Since 2000, industrial emissions have been growing faster than emissions in any other sector, and this includes emissions from fuel combustion, processes, product use and waste.22 These jointly accounted for almost a quarter (24%) of all direct anthropogenic emissions in 2019, or over a third (34%) if indirect emissions from power and heat generation are included.23
It is arguable that renewable energy and clean energy research combined, at some 177,025 outputs to date, offer encouraging news, given their crucial role in meeting climate targets.24 However, it may be of some concern that industrial pollution research outputs amount to just 29% of that volume.25 Moreover, achieving change (reducing energy intensity) at industrial sites is far more easily achieved than changing consumer consumption habits.Companies must transform their operations to seriously reduce their impact on the planet. They may not be fully aware of the range of pathways available to achieve this, and they are likely to be concerned about the level of investment needed for this transformation. Artificial intelligence – such as digital twin technology in manufacturing – could help industry make significant gains in cost, efficiency and environmental impact. Currently, there are only 888 publications mentioning ‘digital twins’ that support SDG7 Affordable and Clean Energy.26 In news coverage, digital twins have received 457 mentions to date, and this was primarily in 2021-2022.27 A lack of coverage of this vital tool may be holding back uptake in industry.
The fashion industry produces 20% of the world’s wastewater alone. In fact, textile dyeing is the second-largest polluter of water worldwide. Textile manufacturers use large amounts of water, and the resulting wastewater produces highly polluted discharge, impacting biodiversity and human health.
Global research into wastewater pollution caused by the textiles industry has increased threefold between 2017-2022, according to an analysis using Dimensions data. This rise correlates with the implementation of the SDGs in 2015, particularly SDG6 Clean Water and Sanitation. Over the past ten years, almost 4,500 published research papers specifically dealt with wastewater pollution and the textiles industry. Before the launch of the SDGs, 35% of publications that related to clean water and sanitation included industrial wastewater pollution. Since 2017, this has risen to 99% of publications.
The majority of research occurred in the fields of engineering, environmental engineering, chemical engineering and chemical sciences, with a focus on wastewater treatment and related technologies, the dyeing process, and the chemicals involved in dyeing. The analysis also showed that China, India, Turkey, Iran, Brazil and the United States are making the biggest contributions to research in this area. Studies state that China’s water quality is now among the world’s worst.