The Role of National Judiciary in Promoting the Sustainable Development Goals: A Comparative Analysis of Judicial Practice, Dr Dania Al-Obaidi
Dr Dania Majed Abdul Hamid Al-Obaidi
College of Political Science
Al-Nahrain University
Iraq
ORCID: 0009-0005-3711-4233
Paper Type: Research
DOI: 10.47556/B.OUTLOOK2025.23.19
Received: 30 October 2025 / Revised: 13 November 2025 / Accepted: 17 November 2025 / Published: 30 December 2025
Purpose: The study aims to analyse the role of the national judiciary in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular focus on judicial reasoning and practice in Iraq, compared with the Egyptian and British experiences.
Methodology: The research adopts an analytical and comparative legal approach that combines the legal interpretation of judicial rulings with the examination of constitutional provisions and relevant legislation.
Findings: The findings indicate that the Iraqi judiciary has begun to institutionalise the principles of environmental protection and social justice; however, it still faces challenges related to limited judicial expertise and insufficient supporting legislation.
Value of the Study: The value of this study lies in highlighting the judiciary as an executive mechanism for implementing sustainable development and in connecting judicial reasoning with international legal frameworks.
Research Limitations: The primary limitations of this study are the scarcity of published environmental rulings and the difficulty of accessing certain judicial precedents.
Theoretical Implications: Theoretically, the study contributes to strengthening academic awareness of the judiciary’s role in promoting sustainable development.
Practical Implications: Practically, it provides valuable insights for policy-makers in formulating sustainable judicial and legislative policies.
Keywords: National Judiciary; Sustainable Development; Judicial Reasoning; Environment; Social Justice; Iraq; Comparative Law; Rule of Law; Environmental Governance; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
Citation: Al-Obaidi, D. M. A. H. (2025): The Role of National Judiciary in Promoting the Sustainable Development Goals: A Comparative Analysis of Judicial Practice. In Ahmed, A. (Ed.): United Nations: What Next After 2030 Agenda and SDGs. World Sustainable Development Outlook 2025, Vol. 21, pp. 283-298. WASD: London, United Kingdom.
