Key Topic 2: UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs)

2. UN Sustainability
Development Goals
(SDGs)

This section UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) will present you the 17 SDGs of the UN and the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, will introduce you the SDG Action Manager tool and will support you in getting familiarized with how to use the tool, that will help in your future role as Sustainability Expert.

Purpose, meaning and significance

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals adopted by all UN member states in 2015, as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The SDGs provide a universal framework for countries, organizations, and individuals to work together toward a better future.
They aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity and peace for all by 2030.

The SDGs’ significance spreads on multiple levels:

Comprehensive: they cover social, economic, and environmental dimensions of development — from eradicating poverty and hunger to promoting education, equality, clean energy, and climate action.
Universal: They apply to all countries, rich and poor alike, emphasizing shared responsibility.
Measurable: Each goal has specific targets and indicators to track progress.
Transformative: The SDGs encourage systemic change — sustainable economies, inclusive societies, and environmental stewardship.

The UN SDGs serve as a global blueprint for building a more just, equitable, and sustainable world by 2030!

UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs)

The SDGs Explained for Business

Responsible business and investment – rooted in universal principles – will be essential to achieving transformational change through the SDGs. For companies, successful implementation will strengthen the enabling environment for doing business and building markets around the world.

By reading the information provided by the UN Global Compact at the link here , you will find discover How Your Company Can Advance Each of the SDGs, you will find links to important initiatives and resources that support SDG implementation.

Sustainability begins with a principles-based approach to doing business: by incorporating the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, companies are not only upholding their basic responsibilities to people and planet, but also setting the stage for long-term success.

The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact

1. Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.
2. Make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
3. Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.
4. The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour.
5. The effective abolition of child labour.
6. The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
7. Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges.
8. Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.
9. Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
10. Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Task 2.1 for self-directed learning

Read the The UN Report 2024 on the “Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals”, https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/report/2024/SG-SDG-Progress-Report-2024-advanced-unedited-version.pdf

Focus on Goal 8, targets 8.2, 8.3 or 8.5 (chose only one target)

Based on the report and on the target you’ve chose, reflect on the need for and the relevance of the 17 SDGs. Provide yourself valid and convincing arguments, to sustain your points of view.

Task 2.2 for self-directed learning

Watch the video on SDG Action Manager at https://unglobalcompact.org/academy/sdg-action-manager .
Identify the features & functionalities of the SDG Action Manager tool tool that makes it valuable and easy to use (you may write your notes on a paper, while watching).
Verify if you have identified them correctly, by confronting your notes with the list in the next slide.
Navigate through/register in the SDG Action Manager.
Reflect and analyse how the SDG Action Manager tool can enable businesses in general and your own business, to take action on the SDG through 2030.
Imagine yourself using the tool in a real/practical situation.

Solution for Task 2.2: Features and functionalities of the SDG Action Manager

It supports companies to find the starting point (to identify which SDGs matter most for them based on company profile, and how to take action today);	It is an analysis tool that can be complementarily used with GRI Matrix (that is a tool for reporting);
It helps companies understand their impact (to get a clear view on how company’s operations, supply chain and business model create positive impact, to identify risk areas for each SGD);	It can be used for extensive expertise in SMEs as well;
It supports companies to set goals and track improvement (to stay motivated and visualize their progress on the dashboard);	It is designed for business entities, but non-profit organisations can also take value out of the tool;
It teaches companies how to collaborate across their company (by inviting your colleagues to join the SDG Action manager tool, contribute expertise, see real-time progress & performance);	It is customized based on size, sector, geographic market, etc.;
It supports companies learning at every step (to determine high-impact action based on thought-provoking yet actionable assessment questions, benchmarks and improvement guides);	It is built to produce impact scores reflecting the results of the pro-active measures, but negative potential impact it is also accounted (indirectly) through the risks levels of the company;
It is free web-based, available in EN, FR, IT, ES;	It is NOT a reporting tool, but a management and assessment tool;
It can be used for different country-offices and at different levels of the company (e.g. different businesses, different brands, etc.);	It keeps recorded data confidential – data are not made public or externalized;
It can be used for specific topics (e.g. water, climate gender opportunities, etc.);	It allows repeated utilization by the same company – a company can fill in several times a year its data in the tool, monitoring its progress.