The Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to define and coordinate global priorities and aspirations up to 2030 in response to the economic, social and environmental challenges faced by the planet. Many governments across the world signed up to these goals. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon noted at the outset that business would be a vital partner in achieving the SDGs. This easy-to-digest book provides a critical evaluation of how a range of multinational companies from across different commercial sectors are currently addressing the SDGs and the challenges they are facing in contributing to them.

The private sector has thus been set the challenge of responding positively in support of the SDGs whilst at the same time acting in the shorter-term interests of its stakeholders. Using a wealth of illustrative materials drawn from company reports and other sources, this book looks at the response of 80 companies and organisations from eight different industry sectors. It examines the different approaches taken, discusses how far the SDGs are actively supported and reviews how progress is being assessed against related targets and objectives. In addition to an analysis of each industry sector, the book provides a summary overview of all industry sectors studied, identifying the most and least supported SDGs overall.

This book will be of interest to the fast-growing body of academics studying and researching sustainability, as well as to industry managers and public-sector operators involved in sustainability management and reporting. It provides detailed commentary and insights, and identifies both key themes from the research and critical issues for the successful implementation of the SDGs in the period up to 2030.