Meeting the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a global mission. This paper assesses the interactions between SDGs concerning nutrient water pollution in China. It identifies 319 interactions (286 synergies, 33 tradeoffs) between SDGs 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and 14 (Life Below Water) and other SDGs. Six scenarios are analyzed using a water quality model, accounting for synergies and avoiding tradeoffs. Results show effective pollution control requires considering SDG interactions, with a combination of improved nutrient management, efficient food consumption, and climate mitigation proving effective for meeting multiple SDGs simultaneously.

Mengru Wang (Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 286 Huaizhong Road, Shijiazhuang 050021, China. Water Systems and Global Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands), Annette B. G. Janssen (Water Systems and Global Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands), Jeanne Bazin (Water Systems and Global Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands), Maryna Strokal (Water Systems and Global Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands), Lin Ma (Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 286 Huaizhong Road, Shijiazhuang 050021, China), Carolien Kroeze (Water Systems and Global Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands)