Accelerating SDG Finance: Insights from the SDG Investment Forum

On the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly week, the SDG Investment Forum convened at the NYSE , uniting Chief Financial Officers and influential figures from the investment community with a shared mission: to expedite private sector investment for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda.

The stark reality is that only 15 per cent of SDG targets are on track.

In collaboration with the United Nations Global Compact CFO Coalition for the SDGs, the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and the Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD), and the support of the NYSE and the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative , the Forum addressed the complementary roles of companies, financial institutions and investors in ensuring that private capital flows towards solutions for sustainable development.

Through a series of case studies, the event featured the vital role of Science-Based Targets backed by corporate investments and performance-linked financing in ensuring that company commitments are ambitious, credible and aligned with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Alberto De Paoli , Head of Americas and Rest of the World at Enel Group and CFO Coalition Co-Chair, underscored the significance of bridging finance with the SDGs, now a pillar of Forward Faster .

Speakers and panellists spotlighted a new report from the Climate Bonds Initiative and UN Global Compact on The role of the Chief Finance Officer in achieving the low-carbon climate transition . It illuminates how CFOs are central to navigating the intricate landscape of risks and opportunities, whether embracing the transition or lagging behind in the low-carbon journey.

The gathering also showcased the remarkable strides made by leading companies within the CFO Coalition as they fervently align their investments and financing with the SDGs. In 2022, these companies proudly reported channelling $88 billion into SDG-aligned investments, adding to a cumulative total of $190 billion since the initiative's inception in 2020. This resounding progress firmly positions them on the trajectory to fulfill their commitment of $500 billion by 2025.

Furthermore, the proportion of SDG-aligned investments relative to their overall investments reached an impressive 36 per cent, a noteworthy increase from the 31 per cent recorded in 2021.

The UN Global Compact is committed to strengthening businesses in a collective endeavour to fund the Sustainable Development Agenda, thereby paving the way for enduring competitive advantage for companies. Together, the business community holds the transformative power to shape a sustainable and equitable future for all. See how your company can move SDG-aligned finance and investment forward faster at ForwardFaster.UNGlobalCompact.org .

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