Scientometrics and overview of water, environment, and sustainable development goals

This article provides a scientometric overview of the research on water, environment, and sustainable development goals (SDGs). The focus is on water-related SDGs, including water quality and pollution sources, water-related diseases, access to sanitation and hygiene, and climate change. The study is based on a review of research articles published in major scientific databases. The paper examines the volume of research, the most influential authors and publications, the collaboration networks, and the keywords used in the research. The results highlight the growing interest in water-related research and the increasing interdisciplinary nature of the research. The analysis shows that water quality and pollution sources are the most researched topics in the water sector, followed by water-climate changes. Water-related diseases, access to sanitation and hygiene, and the role of water in urbanization are also significant areas of research. The study reveals the significant contribution of interdisciplinary water-related research, as evidenced by the increasing collaboration networks among authors from different disciplines. This paper also explores the role of water in the green economy, energy, food security, and agriculture. It reveals that the research in these areas is growing, and there is a need for interdisciplinary research to address the complex interrelationships between water and these sectors. The findings of this study have implications for policy development and research funding in the water sector. This article concludes by highlighting the need for more research on the water-related SDGs and the importance of interdisciplinary research in addressing water-related challenges.