SUSTAINABILITY BRIDGET WILLIAMS
ESG and SDG: Acronyms of the future Bridget Williams, from Bead and Proceed, gets to grips with these acronyms and the challenges and solutions they provide for HR professionals.
L
ast year provided us with anything but 2020 vision (excuse the pun). The COVID-19 pandemic added significant uncertainty to the future. We’re halfway through 2021, still seeking clarity. However, one does not need a crystal ball to determine that economic, social and environmental issues will continue to be challenges. What are the specific challenges we’re facing? And how can we turn these challenges into opportunities?
Network has been issuing a report every year containing highly anticipated data on how each nation is tracking towards the SDGs and where we’re at with reaching the 2030 deadline. However, this year, I was more nervous than excited to read the 2021 report because, as can be expected, COVID-19 has created significant setbacks towards these 17 challenges, and New Zealand was not immune.
Key findings
• For the first time since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, the global average SDG index score has decreased. • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) has exhibited the
largest spread between top and bottom performers (this is no surprise because the pandemic accelerated the roll-out of digital technologies and services). • The SDGs that suffered the largest setbacks include: – SDG 1 (No Poverty) – SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) – SDG 4 (Quality Education) – SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) – SDG 13 (Climate Action) – SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). • New Zealand has experienced slight improvements: SDG 9 has
Challenges
In my last article, I introduced the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This framework sets out the 17 biggest global challenges and separates them into three areas: economic, social and environmental. In 2015, New Zealand (along with 192 other United Nations member states) adopted the framework, and we have until 2030 to achieve these goals. Since the SDGs adoption, the Sustainable Development Solutions 14
HUMAN RESOURCES
SPRING 2021
Please note this image was sourced from SustainoMetric https://sustainometric. com/esg-to-sdgs-connected-paths-to-a-sustainable-future/
