In September 2015, the member states of the United Nations adopted a resolution on “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” (UN General Assembly 2015). The resolution includes 17 “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) complemented by 169 Targets, and represents an urgent call for action to fight poverty together with improving health and education, reducing inequality and inducing economic growth. In doing so, the environment including oceans and forests should be preserved and challenges due to climate change be effectively addressed (https://sdgs.un.org/goals). Together with Springer Nature we have decided to establish a ‘Collection’ that will include publications relevant for the UN SDGs. Upon acceptance, the papers will be published in this Collection. Authors are invited to submit papers that address radiation or radiological protection related to one or more of the 17 UN SDGs. Submitted papers will undergo the regular peer review process i order to maintain the high scientific quality of publications in the journal of 'Radiation and Environmental Biophysics'. Should a paper initially submitted for the Collection be considered outside the remit of the Collection then it may still be considered for a ‘regular’ issue. With this initiative we support Springer Nature in promoting the UN SDGs. Radiation is a double-edged sword: it is an indispensable tool in medicine and industry but its use, if not justified and safe, can impair health and the environment. We invite all those working in radiation research and radiological protection to describe how they contribute to the sustainable development for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.