# A Novel ICT Framework for Sustainable Development Goals
## 2 Background of the Problem and Our Contribution
### Brief Insights from the SDGs-Related Literature  
The use of the transformational power of ICTs to develop more sustainable patterns of production and consumption is well documented in the literature that is widely dispersed among different journals, book chapters and conference proceedings [see for example, the international conference on ICT for Sustainability (ICT4S); or the three main conference series for the development of Environmental Informatics--Environmental Informatics (EnviroInfo), International Symposium on Environmental Software Systems (ISESS), and the International Conference on Information Technologies in Environmental Engineering (ITEE)]. However, we make no attempt here to summarize the existing interdisciplinary research fields related to ICT for Sustainability, including Environmental Informatics, Computational Sustainability, Sustainable HCI, and Green ICT (see for example, [PERSON] and [PERSON] [28] for the fundamental ideas and methods of ICT for Sustainability; [PERSON] and [PERSON] [53] for the major contributions presenting conceptual frameworks to structure this field of research). Rather, since the focus of this paper is to propose a novel ICT framework (based on a range of distinct principles) to address the complexity of SDGs, this section will discuss the most prominent actions and rethinks that have been employed in the literature to study the phenomenon from different perspectives. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [54] provide an overview of the selected few articles in the area of ICT and SDGs, and appeal to all scientists, IT-professionals and their organizations to take a holistic approach to all ICT-related activities and projects and to always include and monitor the effects of their work on SDGs. [PERSON] et al. describe a novel index called Sustainable Wellbeing Index and propose to connect the SDGs with this index by considering \"a comprehensive systems dynamics model that can track stocks and flows and make projections into the future under different policy scenarios\" [55]. [PERSON]'s editorial [56] concludes that Digital Government should play a key role in implementing SDGs, but the gap between aspirations (SDGs) and capacity (Digital Government) is affecting the majority of the UN Member States. [PERSON], [PERSON], and [PERSON] [57] discuss a model for sustainable development which, in addition to providing economic, social, and environmental balance, establishes constraints on humans' social and economic activities. [PERSON], [PERSON], and [PERSON] [58], by reviewing the national observations in implementing the SDGs in 26 countries,conclude that although some initial progress is evident, nevertheless, open questions regarding the assessment of interlinkages, trade-offs and synergies between sustainable development targets are yet to be addressed. [PERSON] et al. (2019) discuss the influences that ICTs have in addressing the SDGs stressing ICT's role to accelerate the progress and construct knowledge societies. [PERSON] et al. (2019) review various governance strategies for addressing sustainability threats. [PERSON] et al. (2019) suggest a methodology for sustainability assessment by aggregating 26 indicators (addressing the SDGs) and stress how much effort each country should undertake to achieve SDGs. [PERSON] et al. (2019) analyze SDG7 by characterizing efforts, in particular their synergies and trade-offs, in achieving SDG7. [PERSON], [PERSON], and [PERSON] (2019) identify sustainability and knowledge gaps in Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) in relation to the Agenda 2030 SDGs. SSPs, which are used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, do not address all SDGs, covering only some of the SDGs (e.g., SDG13). In view of what has already been said, this paper takes a different perspective to address the overwhelming complexity of SDGs.