How to make the SDGs consequential for business
At the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024 in July, UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a candid and urgent message about the alarming lack of progress toward the SDGs and the severe consequences of inaction: “The takeaway is simple: Our failure to secure peace, confront climate change, and boost international finance is undermining development. We must accelerate action for the Sustainable Development Goals — and we don’t have a moment to lose.”
While we’ve seen a growing commitment from governments and businesses to tackle global challenges, and a clear shift towards mandatory reporting requirements worldwide, it’s evident that mandating corporate reporting alone (SDG 12.6) won’t drive the transformative changes needed. Achieving the Global Goals demands concrete policy actions from governments and strategic decisions by businesses worldwide.
This year, on the sidelines of the United Nations Summit of the Future, GRI, the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), GlobeScan, and NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, are kicking off Climate Week with a critical exploration of the question: How to make the SDGs consequential for business.
During this session, we will dive into what takes to engage businesses and the UN in creating a consequential norm for business behaviour – one that supports sustainability and change behaviour.
Join us for this thought-provoking discussion with sustainability leaders on 23 September, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm EST, at NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business.