An event to celebrate the internationalization and expansion of Business for 2030
As governments, international agencies, business and other stakeholders converged on New York for this year’s High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations July 9 – 18, the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) hosted a Businessfor2030 dinner on July 16. The dinner was co-organized with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), ICC United Kingdom, ICC Switzerland and the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and brought together business, UN organizations and governments to highlight private sector action and achievements towards sustainable development, showcasing the Business for 2030 website as a partnerships resource and source of SDG business action examples.
The dinner celebrated the expansion of the Business for 2030 platform. Along with a revamped logo and homepage, the platform welcomed three new content partners—ICC United Kingdom, ICC Switzerland and IOE. These new partners aided in kickstarting the “internationalization” of the platform through the inclusion of case studies that showcase how private sector entities around the globe are working to deliver the UN Global Goals. USCIB is excited to have new content partners that share the Businessfor2030 vision of diversity and partnership as a resource to advance SDG implementation. The new partners feel the same way:
We are excited about working with the Businessfor2030 initiative to showcase the important role that the private sector plays in supporting the SDGs, and use it as a platform to promote good corporate governance. – ICC UK
Partnerships are key for reaching the SDGs. Neither companies, nor governments or civil society can afford to work in silos anymore. Companies need to work together and with stakeholders like governments and affected communities to address systemic challenges that one player will not be able to address systematically alone. I am looking forward to connecting the dots through this cooperation and facilitating partnerships for a better implementation of the SDGs. – IOE President Erol Kiresepi
The UN SDGs are a unique reference system to work for a more sustainable world. ICC Switzerland is enthusiastic to showcase the contributions of Swiss companies to these activities. Such examples strengthen the trust in business to actively cooperate. – ICC CH
The push to internationalize the Business for 2030 website coincides with strong business commitment to advance the SDGs around the world. Speaking at the dinner, new Secretary General of ICC John Denton issued a challenge to the international community to unleash business resources and knowhow to attain the 2030 objectives across economic, social and environmental areas. “We need to help people understand the power of working with the private sector,” emphasized Denton. Kris DeMeester, representing the International Organization of Employers, underscored the broad commitment of employers all over the world to advance sustainable development through employment, in the workplace and working closely with other social partners.
“Three years after the launch of the SDGs, we continue to take seriously that all companies, all sectors must engage to deliver on economic, environmental and social progress,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson in his opening remarks. “No company can sit this out. We commend our own members for having embraced the SDGs and moved forward to embed them not only in corporate responsibility programs, but increasingly across aspects of their planning and investment.”
Partnerships are key to achieving the SDGs and the Business for 2030 platform is a strong example of this. By working together with multiple organizations, the platform aims to expand and increase business action for the SDG around the world while showcasing to the UN and public sector what business has done for the Global Goals.
The three new partners join Businessfor2030 content partners ICC, Business Call to Action (BCtA), The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA).
The Business for 2030 website may be hosted by the United States Council for International Business, but it is an initiative of more and more businesses around the world in their efforts to achieve the SDGs.