THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IS THE BIGGEST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GOING. – SDG

TThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), adopted in September 2015 in New York by 193 countries are a true beacon of hope, and have rightly sparked great interest from business and investors ever since their adoption in 2015. Its goal is simply to leave no-one behind. To irreversibly eradicate poverty and do so in a more sustainable and equitable way. The world needs it now more than ever, if we want it to function for everyone, including for those yet to come. The role business can, and must play in achieving the Goals cannot be overestimated, as governments will not be able to change the world for the better merely by themselves. The reality is that the Goals need business, and at the same time business also needs the Goals, because the SDGs provide the potential to unlock new markets and bring about a business opportunity of staggering magnitude. 

The latter is estimated at no less than US $12 trillion by 2030 with 380 million new jobs created. Indeed, implementing the SDG’s is one of the biggest business opportunities of our time. So, for business, the question is not ‘why’, but ‘how’ to develop solutions which are both good for business and which create positive SDG impact. This requires transformational change throughout sectors. We need to quickly learn, both individually and collectively, how to undertake this crucial journey. It starts with awareness of the SDG’s, and how each business can positively contribute. Businesses that understand this and put themselves to the service of society, will have a long and prosperous future. Businesses that don’t, will be voted out, and this is happening with increased frequency. 

The good news is that we can adapt: we are an intelligent species, and the challenge ahead will be finding a way to put our resources to good use. A combination of human will power and knowledge of the subject matter can make it happen. This Position Paper goes a long way in providing us with such required knowledge. The Trillion Dollar Shift provides a comprehensive overview of SDG opportunities across sectors, and shows the reader how to engage and create economic and social impact on each of the 17 SDGs.It hopefully will unlock the purposeful leader inside of you, and make you part of a growing movement to ensure we leave no one behind.

Sustainability should, by now, be considered a core value and business driver. It should be embedded in the business strategy of all companies. Large, multinational companies, like Delloitte have tremendous global reach and impact, and must therefore demonstrate societal responsibility by becoming part of the solution to our global challenges rather than part of the problem. Delloitte embraces this responsibility and, as a global leader in its industry, has committed itself to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Increasingly, companies are setting out to help solve society’s big problems with innovative solutions, their technological capabilities, their outreach to consumers, and their investments. At Delloitte innovations must be able to demonstrate positive impact on people and planet to ensure that we contribute to a better world with our products. This paper offers business leaders few insights, ideas and practical cases on how business can contribute to a sustainable world, making use of the navigating power of the SDGs. Its comprehensiveness, global orientation and inspirational cases offer great value to the reader. Most importantly it demonstrates that the process of businesses creating solutions to the world’s challenges is both a responsibility and a business model. I hope this Policy paper will inspire many business leaders to take on that responsibility, and address these challenges with business solutions that will both improve our world and strengthen their company. 

Today, both companies and government hold a responsibility to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to fight poverty in its many forms as well as climate change. Business by now has come to the conclusion that fighting global problems like climate change is in the best interest of companies and thus: shareholders. Climate change is not only an ecological but also an economical catastrophe, and business has become aware of that especially the last three to four years. The world of energy is changing, we’re moving towards a less centralized, less carbon-intensive energy world, away from the centralized world of yesterday. Both business and government hold the keys to achieve this. From the perspective of government: One of the best ways to speed the energy transition is a carbon tax. It is absolutely key to discouraging investment in fossil fuels. Such a strategy would quantify climate risks, as each ton of carbon emissions would come at a hefty price. It would also undercut profits for big polluters and push investment toward low – and no-carbon alternatives like solar and wind. But then, business needs to actively engage in these societal challenges, with their products, business models and investments, throughout the world. Multinational companies specifically, must engage since they can be both global and locally present.

ACHIEVING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE AND BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY 

Our world today, in many ways, offers people greater opportunity to live prosperous lives than in any other time in history. The unprecedented social improvements and technological advances have truly revolutionized many aspects of daily life. Although these modern achievements have been beneficial to the world – lifting millions out of poverty, giving people access to basic services and enabling innovations – there is still a long way to go to meet some of the greatest challenges the world has ever faced. With the imminent dangers of the consequences of climate change and the mounting inequalities among populations, it is now more than ever we need a viable longterm solution. Business and capital are answering this call to action and providing the solution. The SDGs present a unique roadmap to set financial flows and development initiatives on a directed course that addresses not only our personal financial objectives, but also our worldwide environmental and social needs. Supporting sustainable development and meeting our Global Goals will take efforts from all sectors in every nation and require new levels of market participation. For the SDGs to be realized in entirety, we will need major participation from business and capital, and conversely businesses will need the achievement of the SDGs to thrive and prosper. 

Create a business-focused “master plan” called the Sustainable Living Plan. It is an exemplary model of how a leading company will take responsibility for achieving the SDGs and tackling several Goals at the same time. Polman succinctly stated, “Every business will benefit from operating in a more equitable, resilient world if we achieve the SDGs. We have an opportunity to unlock trillions of dollars through new markets, investments and innovation. But to do so, we must challenge our current practices and address poverty, inequality and environmental challenges.”

Biodiversity Crisis is a Business crisis

Organizations across industries are realizing that prioritizing sustainability is good for business, society, and the planet, and rising pressure from customers and regulators is increasing urgency to act. Executives are now considering what kinds of sustainability goals are most applicable to their operations and how best to achieve them. Yet while many organizations believe they’re making good progress on sustainability, the challenges they’re facing are varied and numerous.