Spatial Planning Regulation and Sustainable Development: A Review of Governance, Spatial Justice, and SDG Implementation

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between spatial planning, sustainable development, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aims to explain how spatial planning concepts, principles, objectives, and regulatory instruments can be integrated with sustainability principles, as well as identify the challenges and agendas for strengthening the law and governance that are needed. The research uses qualitative literature review with an interpretive-integrative approach to reputable journal articles, especially since 2020 and relevant laws and regulations. The literature is analyzed through critical reading, cross-source comparison, and thematic synthesis. The results of the study show that sustainable spatial planning requires five-dimensional interconnectedness, namely normative coherence, institutional capacity, procedural legitimacy, evidence-based capacity, and substantive outcomes that reflect spatial justice, climate resilience, ecosystem protection, and the achievement of the SDGs. Key challenges in Indonesia include fragmentation of regulations and authorities, mismatches between planning and land use, unequal local government capacity,  weak surveillance and recovery, geospatial data that has not yet been interoperable, formalistic participation, spatial injustice, and increased climate risks. This article concludes that spatial reform must go beyond the harmonization of norms by strengthening risk-based control, recovery-oriented law enforcement, deliberative participation, data interoperability, climate proofing, nature-based solutions, and synergy analysis and trade-offs of the SDGs