Mobilizing Private Sector Not Enough, Secretary-General Tells SDG Alliance Portugal, Stressing Need for More Stakeholder Accountability

Following is UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ message to the Sustainable Development Goals Alliance Portugal, in Lisbon today:

I am pleased to convey my warmest greetings to all those marking this first anniversary of the Aliança ODS Portugal.  I thank you for your commitment to advancing the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The active engagement of the business community and others is critical to achieving the ambitious, universal and transformative 2030 Agenda.  As a unique national multistakeholder platform, the Aliança ODS Portugal can serve as an inspiration for the creation of similar national networks around the world.

Humanity’s greatest challenges — including conflict, climate change, poverty and inequality — can only be addressed if we work together, share our knowledge and forge new and innovative solutions.  The private sector is a critical partner.  Businesses, large and small, have realized the opportunities to invest in new and renewable energy, expand the delivery of goods and services to previously unreached populations, and shift their value chains towards more sustainable practices.  This is what consumers are now expecting of business.

But, mobilizing the private sector is not enough.  We need more accountability by all stakeholders, including business.  I applaud the Aliança ODS Portugal platform for your ongoing efforts to evaluate the contributions of Portugal’s business sector to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.  For our part, the United Nations development system is strongly committed to greater effectiveness and partnership.

I wish the Aliança ODS Portugal continued success.  Together, let us turn the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals into concrete action by all to help us achieve the future we want.