Global Initiatives
It’s beautiful when systems work together! These three global initiatives do that, providing business standardization, reporting and global goal alignment.
World’s largest sustainability goal initiative
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Originally set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations SDGs form the world’s largest, most ambitious and inspiring sustainability goal initiative, providing both tangible global goals, and suggested strategies for all of us to take. The 17 interconnected goals span key global issues, including:
poverty
inequality
climate change + environmental degradation
peace + justice
The intent is to achieve all 169 specific targets that make up the larger 17 SDGs by 2030 - so as we move into the final decade, the UN released an updated plan, called the ‘Decade of Action’.
Countries, industries and businesses alike should be inspired to use these voluntary goals as a roadmap to align their own CSR / sustainability objectives as part of a global, collaborative movement for the betterment of all. We are seeing more and more SDG promotion and use, here in Alberta, but it’s not as widely known or adopted yet as it needs to be.
For more info on the SDGs, the Decade of Action and how to effectively use the SDGs to move your organization forward, here are some helpful links:
More About SDGs (info sources):
How You Can Use SDGs:
UN Global Compact - supporting countries + companies:
World’s largest sustainability reporting initiative
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Launched in 1997 as an independent organization in the Netherlands, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), is the largest and most rigorous sustainability reporting initiative in the world.
We love their bold vision and mission!
Vision: "A thriving global community that lifts humanity and enhances the resources on which all life depends.”
Mission: “To empower decisions that create social, environmental and economic benefits for everyone.”
The GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards are used by over 90% of the world’s largest 250 corporations, across 66 countries and 35 industries. The GRI can be used independently for their own sustainability performance, or in conjunction with the UN SDGs, as the primary means of SDG progress reporting.
Although it’s not currently a requirement for publicly traded businesses operating here in Alberta, or in North America to report to the GRI, it is mandatory in Europe. That said, the GRI offers a powerful business case for all companies to leverage sustainability goals, tracking and reporting, including offering their stakeholders improved transparency and accountability, risk management, and ability to pursue new business opportunity.
More about GRI (info sources):
How You Can Use GRI:
GRI Community:
World’s largest standardizations reporting initiative
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Started in 1947 in London, centred today in Switzerland, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent organization made up of 164 national standards bodies, providing International Standards that are consensus-based, market relevant and voluntary. ISO produces these voluntary global standards in most industries, including: agriculture, food safety, healthcare, manufacturing, technology and transportation, offering, as they describe it,
"…world-class specifications for products, services and systems, ensuring quality, safety and efficiency.”
ISO 9001, as an example, is a more common certification seen here in North America and Alberta. Achieving standards like this can be essential to open up options for international trade and accessing new markets, but by itself, it is not a sustainability reporting initiative.
Some of the other more common standards include:
ISO 9000+ - Quality Management
ISO 22000+- Food Safety Management
ISO 14000+ - Environmental Management
ISO standards can also be used to drive the UN SDGs, providing clear alignment of the most relevant and impactful ISO standards to each of the 17 SDG goals. Nice!
More about ISO (info sources):
How You Can Use ISO:
How to Integrate ISO + SDGs: