Jessica Toale MP, Co-Chair, APPG for the Global Goals


Business plays a vital role in our progress towards the goals through its policies, operations and leadership – and thus address our shared social, economic and environmental challenges”

In 2015, nations around the world agreed an ambitious agenda for change. The United Nations Global Goals for sustainable development brought together socioeconomic goals to end poverty and improve health and education in the poorest countries, with a wider set of goals that covered the environment and cross-border cooperation. This new framework created 17 goals that all nations had an obligation to reach and included a larger role for business as a partner in achieving these shared global goals by 2030.

With less than six years to go, much progress still needs to be made. An increasingly turbulent geopolitical landscape has created political uncertainty around global cooperation. The COVID pandemic has sent us backwards on some health and education goals. The rapid evolution of technology has created huge opportunities but in some cases, has exacerbated inequalities and introduced new challenges. And climate change has become the greatest global driver of conflict, instability and migration.

We are undoubtedly in a different place from when the goals were introduced – and from the 90s and 2000s when the world experienced major progress towards eradicating poverty and improving health and education goals.

But there is also much to be hopeful about. Business plays a vital role in our progress towards the goals through its policies, operations and leadership – and thus address our shared social, economic and environmental challenges.

Members of the ICC can drive progress towards the SDGs. From reducing carbon emissions at every stage of production and distribution to eliminating modern slavery and other abuses in supply chains, to name but a few examples. These are not only the right thing to do, but they make good business sense – by spurring innovation, driving down costs, expanding consumer bases and driving sustainable growth.

Many businesses have joined the UN Global Compact: the world’s largest corporate sustainability and social responsibility initiative. It works through chapters in over 130 countries to support businesses working towards broader UN goals, and particularly the SDGs. The Global Compact in the UK engages with thousands of businesses and organisations. I urge anyone reading to contact their local chapter. You too can play a part in driving a more sustainable business model and contribute towards this vision of a better world.

This was the subject of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on UN Global Goals’ annual SDGs and Business conference earlier this year in the UK Parliament. It aimed to dig into how business can drive progress towards the SDGs in the context of evolving economic, geopolitical and technological dynamics. In particular it looked at how businesses can work with governments and other organisations to create sustainable solutions for the future. Panelists from global businesses in different sectors shared how they have used the SDGs as a framework for adopting more sustainable business and governance practices, and the attendance of Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds MP demonstrated government support for this agenda. 

I am determine that the SDGs are at the heart of the UK government’s agenda for international development – and serve as a framework for domestic action too. We have a talented cohort of MPs and Peers who believe deeply in the power of the goals and the necessity of meeting them. But the Global Goals will only be delivered in a partnership between business and government. That’s where the work of the ICC, and its millions of members, can make the difference.