Government needs to act quickly to capitalise on the strong business appetite for working together to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals adopted one year ago, says the Sustainable Business Council.
New Zealand joined UN member states in adopting the Goals on 25 September 2015, setting a global development agenda to 2030. Business was actively involved in their development.
Sustainable Business Council Executive Director Abbie Reynolds says a year on, business was still keenly waiting to work with Government on this unprecedented opportunity to implement a plan and deliver on the Goals.
“Businesses appetite for sustainability is strong and the Goals provide a powerful common global framework for achieving the agenda. Many of our members are now aligning their development strategies to these Goals,” says Ms Reynolds.
“But, this is a partnership in a global commitment and we’d like to see Government leadership and action as soon as possible to work alongside business, encouraging them to bring these Goals to life.”
Ms Reynolds says the Council has approached Government about working on an implementation plan and raising the profile of the Goals with business.
“Our members are already active, with Vodafone running a profile-raising campaign. Fonterra is working with the global diary industry on how to bring the Goals to life and Sanford is already starting to map their operations and align business planning to the Goals.”
A survey of New Zealand and Australian businesses by the Australian Council of Corporate Social Responsibility had shown that the top five Goals for New Zealand organisations were Good Health and Well-being, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and Climate Action.
“Overall the results show that New Zealand companies understand where they can have the greatest impact, and plan to take practical and concrete action to address those impacts.
“The Goals are aspirational and offer an opportunity to for business and government to work together on the really big issues of our time. We also see them as a way to make a difference in our own country, not just abroad.
“My call to Government is that business is interested and willing to work on these goals. Let’s do it together as soon as possible.”
For more information, contact:
Kate Alcock
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0211 628 093
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