In September of this year, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) complete two years. In celebration of this date, the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) initiates action #PorUmMundoBetter. Conceived by the Thematic Chambers of Communication and Education (CTCom) and Social Impact (CTSocial) of CEBDS, the action aims to encourage companies associated with the Council to tell how they are working towards the SDGs. The idea is simple: in the current format in the LinkedIn, companies must present how their respective actions have positively impacted society from the implementation of the SDGs in business strategies.

Proposed by the United Nations in 2015, the SDGs are part of the effort to build a more sustainable, fair and egalitarian world by 2030. And what will be the role of the business sector in this? It will not be possible to build the world we want without the active participation of companies. Hence one of the fundamental duties of our Council: articulate, mobilize and engage the corporate sector for the implementation of the SDGs.

This means contributing to the creation of goals for business models that are profitable and that manage to generate positive impacts on environmental, social and economic management. It is about a change of perspective in the way of managing companies and organizations, including socio-environmental criteria already in the business planning stage.

With that in mind, CEBDS has been promoting a series of initiatives to help companies along this path. In partnership with the Brazilian Network of Global Compact It is like Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), we conducted training with representatives of companies from the most diverse sectors in São Paulo, Niterói, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte and, soon, we will have an edition in Rio de Janeiro. In these trainings, companies receive theoretical and practical guidance on all stages of implementing the SDGs in business, from the definition of priorities to the elaboration of the report and communication.

Training follows the Guide to the SDGs for Companies, publication developed by World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and made available free of charge in Portuguese by CEBDS, Global Compact and GRI.

On our website you will also find the publication 'Contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals: the inclusive business approach' , developed by the Latin American councils linked to the WBCSD, among them the CEBDS.

Do you want to know more about the SDGs and their relationship with the business sector? We explain.

What are SDGs?

You Sustainable Development Goals form part of the documentTransforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” published by the UN. The document comprises a Declaration, 17 Sustainable Development Goals, 169 targets, a section on means of implementation and global partnerships, and a framework for follow-up and review.

The agenda aims to improve people's quality of life, preserving the ecosystem and ensuring economic prosperity. It is, therefore, a unique opportunity in history for organizations to consolidate a positive and decisive role for the future of society.

The list is wide and presents ways to build a better world:

1. End poverty in all its forms, everywhere;
2. End hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote family farming;
3. Ensure a healthy life and promote well-being for all;
4. Ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education, and promote learning opportunities for all;
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls;
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all;
7. Ensuring access to cheap, reliable and sustainable energy;
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth; full, productive employment and decent work for all;
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation;
10. Reduce inequality between and within countries;
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable;
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production standards;
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts;
14. Conserve and promote the sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources;
15. Protect, recover and promote the sustainable use of forests, combat desertification and halt the loss of biodiversity;
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all;
17. Strengthen implementation mechanisms and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

What is the role of business in relation to the SDGs?

It could be several. Job creation, incentives for innovation, protection of the environment, initiatives to combat climate change, accessible solutions for energy supply, etc. The area of expertise will be directly linked to the segment in which your company operates.

The issue is that not all inclusive businesses will work with the 17 goals. Each company will act according to its business operations. Regardless of how many SDGs companies aim to work on, following this perspective will make the venture an inclusive business.

The action #PorUmMundoBetter will continue until mid-September. Until then, you will be able to learn about the performance of large companies that have been including the objectives and goals of the SDGs in their operations. follow our blog it is ours LinkedIn!

all and all #PorUmMundoBetter!