The case for sustainability, beyond business as usual

Our planet is faced with complex challenges born from political and economic instability, ever-growing human needs, rising inequality, and changing investor perspectives. These issues affect all of us, and the only way to navigate this reality is to follow a roadmap of sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offers exactly such a compass, one through which we can all contribute to an equitable and sustainable future.

Sustainability, a strategic imperative

In recent years, the role of environmental and social responsibility in organizational growth has become overwhelmingly clear. There is an estimated $12 trillion in potential growth linked to achieving the SDGs, and harnessing the SDGs can drive growth, address risk, attract capital and help organizations gain enhanced or renewed purpose. Its objectives are more pertinent than ever for governments, regulators, investors, industries and consumers across the planet, all of whom seek to pursue a course of sustainable development in years to come.

Embedding sustainability across the organization will require a strategic, cultural and operational shift away from established conventions. Navigating the challenges of our time, be it environmental, societal or economic in nature, will take a concerted effort from all, but the upsides are enormous. The SDGs can potentially unlock trillions of dollars in revenue, in addition to significant cost savings and adding hundreds of millions of new jobs .

Taking clear action

The surest way of getting businesses to achieve the SDGs is to focus on the areas where they can be the most impactful. This will require them to analyze each respective Goals underlying targets, and then align themselves with those that are most meaningful. Business leaders understand how to tackle the tangible, and this gives them the greatest change to set a concrete plan in motion towards achieving targets.

By truly enshrining SDGs at a strategic level, organizations can then use it as a guiding force to shape investment decisions, influence R&D efforts and even decide on market offerings. The Goals are a clear lens that brings strategic areas into sharper focus than ever before, steering the conversation away from mere talk of sustainability to business priorities and opportunities waiting to be harnessed.

With just a decade left for the 2030 deadline, there is a need for swift action and collaborative, constructive partnerships to be forged. These ambitious Goals necessitate that we do more than just business as usual, dictating businesses craft growth roadmaps by putting the planet and community first if we are all to reap the rewards of a better tomorrow.