SDG Ambition programme
Now more than ever, companies everywhere must unite in the business of a more resilient, sustainable world. Despite the progress in many areas, we are not on track to achieve the SDGs before 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022, published by UN Statistics, warns that the COVID-19 pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine are reversing progress on the SDGs. It highlights the need for countries and companies to do more to meet the 2030 Agenda.
While 84 percent of companies surveyed take action on SDGs, only 46 percent are implementing them in their business strategy and only 37 percent design business models that contribute to SDGs. These percentages are not high enough.
It is clear that there is a need for more corporate ambition, but also that this ambition is translated into concrete actions. That’s why the UN Global Compact, in partnership with SAP and Accenture, launched the SDG Ambition Programme. SDG Ambition is an accelerator initiative that aims to challenge and support participating companies of the UN Global Compact in setting ambitious corporate targets and accelerating integration of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into core business management.
The SDG Ambition was launched during the WEF 2020 in Davos. Eric Rondolat, CEO of Signify, was one of the three speakers during the part for the local networks. The SDG Ambition is rolled out by the local networks on a national level. After two successful rounds in 2020 and 2021, we also offer this program this year. The training program will start in the Netherlands in October 2022.
SDG Ambition will enable your company to go beyond incremental progress and take a step further with transformational change – unlocking business value, building resilience and enabling long-term growth.
The SDG Ambition programme
What you will gain from the six months accelerator programme:
● A clear understanding of baseline impacts across the business in creating a comprehensive sustainability strategy.
● The ability to achieve ambitious goals aimed at formulating business action with what is actually needed to achieve the SDGs.
● The knowledge that is needed to integrate the SDGs and mainstream across all business units by pioneering a presentation integration approach using enabling technologies.
● An opportunity to improve the way you communicate and record according to the Communication on Progress (CoP).
For whom is the SDG Ambition?
We call upon all members of Global Compact Netwerk Nederland to sign up for the SDG Ambition. We ask participants to demonstrate commitment to strengthen the business objectives set and take measures to increase progress on SDGs. Each company appoints two representatives to participate in the program. In addition, an “SDG Champion” at the executive level is designated to monitor the developments in the program and provide support where necessary.
Interested in participating?
The application deadline is September 30.
Get started with the ‘Decade of Action and Delivery’ together with your colleagues. Apply via the UN Global Compact website or contact Marco Swan, swan@gcnetherlands.nl.
SDG Ambition Q&A session
Have questions about your company participating in the SDG Ambition Accelerator for the 2021-2022 round? Watch the recording of the Q&A session to learn how your company can set ambitious corporate targets and accelerate integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into core business management. As we set out to recover better together from the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the time for all companies to raise their ambition for people, planet and prosperity — taking action across all of the SDGs and at a scale that can create the tipping points for the world we want.
Lotte Mastwijk, Manager Communications & Sustainability at LC Packaging describes the disruptions in their operations directly linked to challenges such as climate change and fossil fuel scarcity. To alleviate risks and to reduce the consequences of these disruptions she then emphasizes the need to define strategies to build supply chain resilience, such as investing in climate change mitigation and climate-resilient infrastructure and to green the company’s operations, and eliminate dependency on fossil fuels.
Participating companies
Ambition Guide: Setting Goals for the Decade of Action
This publication establishes the initial set of SDG Ambition Benchmarks that challenge organizations to set more ambitious goals and targets in the areas in which business is positioned to have a substantial impact. Business leaders can use this document to support their strategy and set goals ambitious enough to deliver the SDGs by 2030.
Integration Guide: Designing Business Systems for the SDGs
This publication presents the approach through which the ten SDG Ambition Benchmarks can be integrated into core business processes and systems to enable effective measurement & management of sustainability performance. Business leaders can use this publication to identify the system opportunities to integrate the SDGs into core business processes.
SDG Ambition Benchmark Reference Sheets (for consultation)
SDG Ambition – Scaling Business Impact for the Decade of Action
This publication is an introduction to SDG Ambition — a new initiative of the UN Global Compact. By raising ambition, deepening integration, and embracing new technologies we believe business can become a leading actor in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With the launch of SDG Ambition, the UN Global Compact is proud to share its new SDG Implementation Framework, which aims to guide companies to deepen integration of the SDGs and Ten Principles into business strategy, operations, and stakeholder engagement.
