The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also called Global Goals, are made up of 17 goals and 169 goals that are expected to be achieved by 2030 worldwide. The agreement was signed in 2015 during the United Nations Summit in New York, and brings actions aimed at governments to achieve the desired proposals.

Goals include poverty eradication, quality education, use of clean and accessible energy, actions against climate change, reduction of social and cross-country inequalities. It is a program similar to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which, in general, have been successfully achieved.

The SDGs broadened the proposals of the turn of the century and focused on combating hunger and zeal for the environment. The metrics used to evaluate the 8 MDGs also proved to be viable parameters of comparison for new research. Certainly, they will be adopted again to measure the social and environmental impacts caused by the new global action package.

And the private sector has a central role in achieving the SDGs. Actions by industries and companies directly impact social and environmental life, and it is extremely important that management is focused on the well-being of the community and the planet in order to have due recognition.

Corporate actions to achieve the SDGs

Several actions can be implemented in corporations so that the 2030 Agenda is followed to the letter. Some of them are:

1. implementing sporadic discussions with employees so that everyone understands what the Global Goals for 2030 are and how they can contribute to them in their routines;
2. to join forces with other companies in the region, in order to minimize the environmental impact caused by both, seeking solutions that please everyone;
3. to discuss issues such as Equality (the goal 5 of the SDGs) or Climate Action (goal 13), offering diverse opinions on these controversial issues;
4. to use the 2030 Agenda when elaborating the company’s goals, values ​​and mission, as well as the employees’ conduct manuals;
5. to use digital platforms so that the message of the Global Goals is spread among employees and followers of the company;
6. choose a spokesperson in each sector to monitor whether the objectives and the goals are being met;
7. encourage responsible consumption of office material goods, reusing or recycling whenever possible;
8. promoting work gymnastics so that employees work more relaxed and willing;
9. implement a career plan and avoid salary inequality between professionals ions in the same role;
10. create study incentive programs for employees at different levels of academic training;
11. invest in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar;
12. to promote toys and clothes collection campaigns;
13. to offer opportunities for people with disabilities or refugees;
14. to promote cleaning efforts in parks and rivers, encouraging volunteering in the community;
15. create a community garden so that employees can stimulate skills in their free time.

It is important to note that not all companies can take action to serve all 17 Global Goals. Each company must stipulate what are the goals that directly reach it, thinking about its branch of activity, to make the best decisions.