Publisher’s note Available to Purchase

We are pleased to publish this special issue as an Emerald Reach Open Access supplementary issue, in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

At a UN Summit in September 2015 the UN launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/). The goals, which were developed to mobilize efforts to “end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change^[1]”, call for action by all countries, irrespective of income status, to promote prosperity whilst also protecting the planet.

Academic research forms a vital part in informing and driving change....