- Sustainable development is how we must live today if we want a better tomorrow.
- The survival of our societies and our shared planet depends on a more sustainable world.
Sustainable development
In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainable development as the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway, addressing the UN General Assembly on Environment and Development
“Our Common Future”
Sustainability – Elkington’s triple bottom line
- First published in 1997, John Elkington’s triple bottom line concept depicts a business world with outstanding performances in three main areas:
- Social
- Environmental, and
- Economic
rather than solely focusing on generating profit, or the standard “bottom line.”
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – Sustainable Development Goals
- In 2015, UN Member States translated their vision of sustainable development into a blueprint for achieving it: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Its 17 Sustainable Development Goals —with ambitious targets to achieve by 2030— cover the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economy, social development and the environment.
ESG – Environment, Social, and Governance
- The acronym ESG was created in 2004
- The UN Global Compact report, “Who Cares Wins,” resulted from a joint initiative of financial institutions (18)
- They developed guidelines and recommendations on how to best integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) value drivers in asset management and financial research – Investing for Long-Term Value.
Why sustainability is crucial for corporate strategy
- 90% of executives believe sustainability is important, but only 60% of organizations have sustainability strategies.
- Embedding sustainability in strategy is essential to meet evolving investor pressure, consumer demand, and regulatory requirements.
- Sustainability has also been proven to attract top talent, reduce costs, and boost profits.
