Sustainable development goals present $82B in investment opportunities for PHL by 2030 —UNDP report

The United Nations' (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) could create investment opportunities for the Philippines amounting to $82 billion by 2030, a report by the UN Development Program (UNDP) said Wednesday.

The report "Better Business, Better World: Philippines" report was done by the UNDP in collaboration with London-based sustainable business advisory firm Systemiq.

"Investment opportunities linked to the SDGs are predicted to grow exponentially ahead of other sectors. In the Philippines, the size of the prize is at least $82 billion and 4.4 million jobs by 2030," Systemiq senior advisor Gail Klintworth said in a press briefing in Makati City.

The UN refers to SDGs as the "blueprint" to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030.

The goals address the global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.

The 17 SDGS of the UN are the following:

• No poverty
• Zero hunger
• Good health and well-being
• Quality education
• Gender equality
• Clean water and sanitation
• Affordable clean energy
• Decent work and economic growth
• Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
• Reduced inequalities
• Sustainable cities and communities
• Climate action
• Life below water
• Life on land
• Peace, justice, and strong institutions
• Partnerships for the goals

To realize economic benefits and investment opportunities of the SDGs, the UNDP aligned the goals into four key areas of the Philippine economy, namely cities and mobility; energy and materials; food and agriculture; and health and well-being.

Of the four key areas the UNDP has identified 16 "priority hot spots" that could create about $66 billion or 80% of the total $82-billion value of investment opportunities to be realized by 2030 if the SDGs are achieved.

The 16 prioritized opportunities identified by the UNDP are the following:

• Affordable housing
• Risk pooling
• Circular economy
• Reducing food waste in value chain
• Low-income food markets
• Energy access
• Energy efficiency-buildings
• Energy smart agriculture-
• Forest ecosystem services
• Technology in large-scale farms
• Non-energy intensive industries
• Disaster management services
• Sustainable aquaculture
• Remote patient monitoring
• Food safety
• Public transport in urban areas

For her part, UNDP Philippines Outcome lead of Institutions and SDG Partnerships Maria Luisa Jolongbayan said the UNDP and Systemiq organized a meeting with officials of the four of the country's largest conglomerates Ayala Corp., San Miguel Corp., First Philippine Holdings, and SM Investments Corp. to "drive further commitment and further actions."

Jolongbayan said the goal of the UNDP report is to "influence businesses and investors embed the sustainable development goals in their decision making, core business model, and drive capital for the SDGs."

While the UNDP Philippines official declined to disclose the outcome of the meeting with the four conglomerates, she said the firms will present their commitments during the official launch of the UNDP report on November 18. — MDM, GMA News