Here’s why we should be talking about the SDGs

Right now, there’s no disagreement on what the world needs. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted by all the United Nations’ member countries in 2015, clearly set out what we need to do to end poverty, improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth, while dealing with the real elephant in the room of tackling climate change.

One of the great things about the SDGs is that they provide a common language and framework that brings all stakeholders - nations and governments, big business, civil society, the person in the street – together in one conversation at a time when Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues are front and centre of the global agenda.

The other key element of the SDGs is that they provide a clear call to action to every stakeholder to help contribute to greater peace and prosperity for our planet in our lifetime. For the world’s big companies, this means asking how the private sector can join hands with all the other actors to answer some of the pressing socio-economic questions facing our world, and to bring marginalised people and communities into the mainstream.

This week, we’re hosting Anglo American’s fifth annual SDG Accountability Dialogue, where a range of stakeholders – including our partners in government, the private sector, academia, and civil society – come together to talk about the progress we’re making in radically transforming South African society, and what we can do differently to have the greatest impact possible.

There are a couple of reasons why this type of dialogue is useful. For one, it helps connect the dots between a multitude of initiatives and programmes that are designed to uplift our society. Every one of those initiatives makes a difference in at least one of the SDGs, and bringing together the data in one place provides the proverbial 30,000 foot view that allows a business to measure its progress.

For example, our national education programme contributes directly to SDG 4 (quality education). But in the process, we’re creating employment (SDG 8), building sustainable communities (SDG 11), and in many cases, collaboratively installing basic infrastructure like water and sanitation (SDG 6). Collating all those activities in a single view gives a far better measure of impact and progress against targets.

The second important aspect of the SDG Dialogue is that it helps build two-way accountability. As?business, Anglo American puts itself out there and shares its activities and data with its stakeholders, and asks them to tell us how we’re doing. Because all our stakeholders are doing SDG-related work as well, we’re able to have a conversation. We can share opportunities for learning and collaboration, hold each other accountable to targets and commitments we’ve made in the past, and identify areas that need more attention.

Case in point: SDG 5, which talks to gender equality. Over the years, this SDG has attracted less resources than some others. But with gender-based violence (GBV) a critical focus in South Africa, we’re massively ramping up investment in this area, with a resulting uptick in impact on the ground.

In our 2022 SDG Accountability Dialogue, we’ll be focusing a lot more attention on SDG 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. If we are to build peaceful and inclusive societies where sustainable development can take place, we must find ways to provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

And thirdly, the Dialogue is a recognition that we can’t do this alone. The SDGs are not achievable by a single stakeholder. We’re going to need partnerships and collaboration across all spheres of our society if we’re going to make meaningful progress. And that’s critical to all of us.