Sustainable Development Goals Allow Companies to Do Well by Doing Good, Deputy Secretary-General Tells United Nations Global Compact Summit

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s closing remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit, in New York on 23 June:

Good afternoon.  It’s a pleasure and honour for me to be here with you and to be asked to close this successful Leaders Summit.

Throughout the Summit we have been inspired by creative and promising visions for how to achieve the future we want.  Something remarkable is under way.  The United Nations, Governments, the business community, youth, the academic community and civil society are coming together, like never before, to turn new ideas into action and to be part of a transformative process of change for sustainable development.  I thank everyone involved for your engagement and commitment and your foresight.

Let us imagine that it is 2030 — the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.  Let us hope that we find ourselves in a world without extreme poverty.  A world that is safer and more just.  Let us imagine that someone asked us how we achieved this.  What would we answer?

Here are some suggestions; I am sure you have others.

First, Governments everywhere took the lead to work out comprehensive, inclusive and accountable national action plans for the new goals.  Second, we included everyone in our efforts and gave women and young people the authority to drive change.  Third, sustainability became a guiding principle.  Markets rewarded the sustainable practices and investments.  Resources were produced, consumed or recycled in a responsible way.  Fourth, technology was used to open markets, enhance growth, lower inequality and increase security.  Fifth, investors retooled their strategies to incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals — generating both investment returns and positive social impact.  Lastly, strong multistakeholder partnerships were formed to solve systemic challenges.

In short, we would say that we came together to turn a world of risks into a future of opportunities.

During my own career, I have seen the gap shrink between public service and the world of business.  This convergence is not a coincidence, but a necessity, a process of enlightened self-interest.  The challenges we face — across borders, across sectors, and across generations — are far too great for any person, organization or sector to tackle alone.  The Sustainable Development Goals are a practical vision of interdependence.  They are more than strategic planning tools — they are an expression of the hopes and aspirations of millions of people around the world.

As we journey to 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals will take on even greater meaning as vehicles to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Charter, our founding document.  The Sustainable Development Goals create huge market opportunities everywhere and allow companies to do well, by doing good.  The optimism and entrepreneurship of the private sector must be a driving force for our journey to destination 2030.

The United Nations and Governments are relying on business and investors to challenge and inspire us.  Your creativity, innovation and drive will keep us on track and help us moving forwards.  I commend the United Nations Global Compact and all of the companies represented here or elsewhere who are committed to responsible business and to leading us on this historic new path.

You have already demonstrated the incredible power and potential of the 2030 Agenda.  And the adventure has only just begun.  We have set the vision but let us remember former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld’s view on the future.  The future is two things, he said, the vision and the horizon, but it is also the hard work, the many steps you take tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.  By this I close the 2016 Global Compact Leaders Summit.  Let us go to work.

Thank you.