Abstract
Sustainable development depends on the integration of the economy, society, and environment. Yet, escalating environmental challenges pose threats to both society and the economy. Despite progress in addressing environmental issues to promote sustainability, knowledge gaps in scientific research, technological advancement, engineering practice, and policy development persist. In this review, we aim to narrow these gaps by proposing innovation-based solutions and refining existing paradigms. Reviewing past research and actions, we first elucidate the evolution of sustainability science and the essence of sustainable development and its assessment. Secondly, we summarize current major environmental issues, including global warming and climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and desertification, and environmental pollution, as well as their relationships with sustainability and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Subsequently, this review critically evaluates the role of innovations in science, technology, engineering, and policy (iSTEP) and their synergies in advancing sustainability and SDGs. While their sequential relationships may vary based on specific contexts or sustainability scenarios within the iSTEP framework, each component reinforces the others, fostering continuous improvement. Finally, this review offers recommendations and future perspectives for formulating sustainability roadmaps. Recommendations include fostering a vision of sustainability, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and encouraging transboundary cooperation among stakeholders for future sustainability endeavors.