Major brands discuss progress, challenges in achieving SDG 17

Some of the country’s major corporations gathered on Wednesday in Makati City to discuss their contributions and progress in achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs). 

The SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, consisting of 17 goals that the intergovernmental organization hopes to have made at least considerable headway in by 2030:

1. No poverty
2. Zero hunger
3. Good health and well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender equality
6. Clean water and sanitation
7. Affordable and clean energy
8. Decent work and economic growth
9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
10. Reduced inequalities
11. Sustainable cities and economies
12. Responsible consumption and production
13. Climate action
14. Life below water
15. Life on land
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
17. Partnership for the goals

At the event the companies discussed SDG 17, which aims to strengthen the means of implementation of these goals through international cooperation, including partnerships with the private sector.

At this year’s Sustainability Summit, which the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) hosted as a midpoint evaluation of SDG progress on the journey to 2030, significant challenges were revealed.

The organization said only a mere 15% are on track to be achieved by 2030. 

Meanwhile, 48% of the targets that can be assessed show moderate or severe deviations from the desired trajectory, and 37% of these targets have yet to progress or, even worse, have regressed below the 2015 baseline.

UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González expressed the urgent need for accelerated efforts and renewed commitments from all sectors of society. 

“There is a minimal progress, and we are 30 years behind our SDGs. This [is a] call for multilateralism and to adapt to the extensive use of new technology,” he said. 

Although the government has been in constant collaboration with other stakeholders, he added, “the SDGs are unachievable without the private sector.”

Among the companies presented at the event were the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Globe Telecom, PLDT, Smart, Unilever, Ayala Land Inc., PwC Philippines, and Accenture. 

"We are really tracking behind and globally that's also the scenario. I think we are not above average or we are just at par with what's happening at local. And so, the main idea is to pump up with trackers, tools. How are we going to ensure that we are contributing meaningfully to the SDGs? The SDGs, it's about the future that we want," said Vicky Tan, head of Ayala Corporation's Enterprise Risk Management and Sustainability Unit in an interview with GMA News Online.

Brand representatives shared the challenges they met upon achieving their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in relation to the SDGs. 

PLDT and Smart assistant vice president Edmar Pasilaban said one major challenge is the general public’s lack of access to information, especially in remote areas. 

Globe Telecom’s director of sustainability Yoly Crisanto agreed, noting that, “The challenge ay paano ibababa ang lengguwahe, sa household level, sa general public.” 

(The challenge is how do we speak to those at the household level, in the general public.)

“Help us achieve the SDGs like yung mga simpleng pagpatay ng ilaw kapag hindi ginagamit. We have to get everybody on board.”

(As simple as turning off the lights when not in use could help us achieve the SDGs.)

Jo Ann Bueno-Eala, BPI’s VP for sustainability, also highlighted that aside from profitability, "brands must also prioritize ‘sustainability."

While the role of private sectors is important, Tan also highlighted that the media's role as storytellers is also crucial. 

"You know, of course we need the scientists. We need the GHG specialists to also compute. But what I realized that we needed the most are the storytellers. Like the complex issue of climate change. We need a storyteller who will translate it to a relatable bite-sized information," said Tan. 

GMA Network is the first and only broadcast network that is part of the Global Compact, and it also recently partnered with UN GCNP to elevate awareness of the SDGs. GMA Integrated News’ senior news correspondent, Mav Gonzales, was also present during the summit and served as a moderator.  — BM, GMA Integrated News