It is crucial to have a greater commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Pablo H. Plá, CEO San Miguel

Published on November 10, 2023 on Infobae

Although 96% of CEOs of the world's leading companies claim to be committed to the SDGs, only 49% believe that the goals of the 2030 Agenda are achievable.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an ambitious set of global targets designed by the UN to address planetary challenges ranging from poverty eradication to climate change mitigation.

The new report, "Global Private Sector Stocktake: through the lens of the private sector," conducted jointly by the UN Global Compact and Accenture, underscores the need for companies to accelerate actions to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

This report details the impact of the private sector on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to date and presents a path forward for the second half of this period (2023-2030).

The report reveals that 96% of CEOs of the world's leading companies claim to be committed to the SDGs, but only 49% believe that the goals of the 2030 Agenda are achievable. Additionally, it points out that currently, only 15% of the goals are on track, progress in 48% is weak and insufficient, and progress has stalled or regressed in 37% of the goals.

Analysts agree that what the UN report reflects is replicated at the local level. Therefore, the private sector must continue to unite efforts to achieve the proposed goals. It is essential for business leaders to have clear guidance on where to focus their efforts and criteria for measurement and calculation so that they can not only report progress adequately but also make informed decisions based on this knowledge.

While the agreed-upon goals are ambitious, they represent a significant challenge and a driver for companies to take the lead in the change.

Actions that leave a mark:

Some principles that cannot be missing in the sustainable development of companies include:

• Act with ethics and transparency in business management: Respect for human rights, long-term business strategy, ethics and transparency in business management, fair competition.

• Use natural resources consciously and responsibly: Efficient water use, sustainable agriculture, waste management, sustainable soil management, effluent management, biodiversity protection, climate change, and ecosystem conservation, energy efficiency.

• Promote the well-being and social development of communities: Ensuring education, development, health.

• Collaborate with strategic partners to enhance business opportunities: Promotion of social responsibility in the supply chain, evaluation and development of suppliers, combating child labor.

• Develop people in their human and economic dimensions: Management of temporary staff, occupational health and safety, diversity and equal opportunities, attraction, development and retention of talent, work-life balance.

• Interpret customer needs and achieve satisfaction with integrity: Promotion of healthy lifestyles, food safety, customer service.

  Seven years into the 2030 Agenda, we must continue working for a better future and a more sustainable world. While the agreed-upon goals are ambitious, they represent a significant challenge and a driver for companies to take the lead in the change.