OBJECTIVES OF THE MODULE

  • Knowing the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with their 169 Targets.
  • Acquire a vision of the implementation of the agenda and the SDGs in green entrepreneurship projects giving a guideline of self working and investigation.

CONTENTS

  • Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Implementing SDGs in green entrepreneurship projects.
  • More information in…

INTRODUCTION

In the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the role of entrepreneurship in improving the quality of life for ordinary people, including disadvantaged groups is recognized, as it contributes to building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. It also aims to substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment and decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Up to 60 million new jobs in the green economy could potentially be created by 2030. If properly managed, green growth can provide an opportunity to address the youth employment challenge while simultaneously preserving the environment and increasing climate resilience.

Sustainability is the main pillar of any business activity and the United Nations Agenda with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their 169 Targets are a roadmap and a useful tool to create a solid foundation respecting people, environment and economy (Bases of Social Responsibility).

1.   TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

  • The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
  • At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership.
  • They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
  • It is an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership.
  • Working under the 17 SDGs principles is the way to have more possibilities to get closer this moto.

This link takes you to The United Nations video “Do you know all 17 SDGs?” to know about these goals. And you have all of the on the poster, figure 1 on the next page.

Figure 1. SDGs Poster

Another way of describing SDGs is on the video from Sustainability Illustrated and the Triple Bottom Line concept – Economic Impact: Economic value created and enjoyed by society, not simply profit and loss. Discover the SDG Wedding Cake:

2.   HISTORY AND ORIGINS

  • The UN 2030 Universal Agenda is a really ambitious project about the amount of in relation to the scope that it aims to reach:
  • 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
  • 169 Targets Of course every country has the challenge to adapt the targets to their specific needs: they are not the same in Spain than in India.
  • The origin of the 17 SDG are the Millennium Development Goals.
  • The initial general objective was to complete what these did not achieve till the 2015 deadline.
  • They seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.
  • The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda up to 2030.
  • They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve till 2015 deadline.
  • They seek to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.
  • The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet:
  • People: we are determined to end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can fulfill their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment. ODSs related to PEOPLE:
  • Planet: we are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations. SDGs related to planet:
  • Prosperity: we are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature. SDGs related to prosperity:
  • Peace: we are determined to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. SDG related to peace:
  • Partnership: we are determined to mobilize the means required to implement this Agenda through a revitalised Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focussed in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people. The implementation depends on the interlinkages on the global net with our stakeholders. SDG related to partnership:


3.   IMPLEMENTING  SDGs IN GREEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECTS

  • The creativity, knowhow, technology and financial resources from all of society is necessary to achieve the SDGs in every context and here is where young green entrepreneurs can contribute to achieve this targets.
  • The SDGs provide a useful guideline of work for young entrepreneurs in their way to greener our society and create a new and inclusive labour market being the driving work force in the green transition and decent job creation. This working method is a help to make the necessary changes in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

How to implement SDGs in green entrepreneurship projects? TIPS:

1. Learn, study and look for information about the 17 SDGs and the UN 2030Agenda and the specific application in your country.

2. Choose a main and general SDG related to the purpose or aim of your activity, product or service.

3. You need two or three (maximum) secondary or more specific ones that explain your commitment necessary for your tasks with the Global Goals. Thinking about your best practices will help you.

4. Establish your own targets, better if they are linked with those of your country.

5. Remember: all the SDGs are linked and even if you only focus on those that applied to your business, you will influence the others.

Example:

A company that manufactures artisanal cheese (Purpose). One of the managers is a woman, in the rural world a feminine leadership shocks in the present time (secondary/specific). They produce a positive environmental impact  (secondary/specific).

Another company producing the same product can guide its management under the influence of other SDGs, the choice is a personal strategy.

6. Make them part of your business strategy to create a solid foundation respecting people, the environment and the economy (Bases of Social Responsibility).

7. Communicate you are working under the principles of Social Responsibility to all your stakeholders.

8. Make your commitment visible using the logos, images and related vocabulary in your corporate image. The added value of your commitment to social responsibility has to be detected at first sight.

9. Once integrated into your company, the SDGs must be updated like any other tool.

10. Don’t forget you have a long, dynamic and rewarding long way towards going green in business and being successful in improving the quality of life for everyone respecting the environment is in your hand.

11. Networking by healthy synergies is your best partner (SDG 17 Partnership for the goals). Cheer up and good luck!!!


4.   MORE INFORMATION IN…

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