Pursuing SDG Targets

Pursuing SDG targets by entrepreneurs plays a crucial role in advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They can easily do this by integrating sustainability into their business practices. While entrepreneurs can contribute to multiple SDGs, some targets are particularly relevant to their efforts. Entrepreneurs often focus on innovations, technologies, and business models that address these targets while aligning their operations with sustainability principles. However, it’s important to note that the pursuit of specific SDG targets can vary based on the business they are willing to expand. Entrepreneur’s sector, location, and personal interests and their passion towards sustainability are additional contributing factors for their committment.

Ready to make an impact? Learn how you can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals as an entrepreneur. Explore the interconnectedness within SDG targets. Start your sustainable journey today by understanding interconnectedness.

Here are some of the most important SDGs often pursued by entrepreneurs.

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Renewable Energy: Many entrepreneurs are actively pursuing this target. Obviously because of increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix! According to the Renewables 2021 Global Status Report, renewable energy accounted for around 29% of global electricity production in 2020.

• Target 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Sustainable Technologies: Entrepreneurs are increasingly focusing on developing and adopting environmentally friendly technologies. According to the Global Cleantech Innovation Index 2020, cleantech companies represented around 6.4% of the global startup community.

• Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
• Target 9.5: Enhance research and development of environmentally friendly technologies.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Waste Reduction: The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that only about 8.6% of the world’s plastic production is currently recycled. Entrepreneurs play a significant role in reducing waste generation through recycling, upcycling, and waste reduction strategies.

• Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
• Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.

Goal 13: Climate Action

Climate Change Integration: The United Nations Global Compact reported in 2020 that 88% of CEOs surveyed believed that addressing climate change is essential for the long-term success of their companies. This indicates a growing recognition of the importance of climate action among entrepreneurs.

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness, and capacity on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: The Global Compact’s 2020 CEO study also found that 77% of CEOs viewed partnerships and collaborations as crucial for achieving the SDGs. This reflects the increasing emphasis on cross-sector collaboration among entrepreneurs.

• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Interconnectedness and causal relationships of SDGs

The causal relationship between SDGs 7, 9, 12, 13, and 17 can be understood as follows:

SDG 7 – Causal Link to SDG 9: Access to affordable and clean energy enables sustainable industrialization, innovation, and the development of resilient infrastructure. It provides the necessary power sources for industries, encourages the adoption of clean technologies, and supports the growth of sustainable infrastructure projects.
SDG 9 – Causal Link to SDG 7: SDG 9 promotes the upgrading of industries and infrastructure to make them sustainable. This includes the adoption of clean and renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies, and sustainable practices to ensure access to affordable and clean energy.
SDG 12- Causal Link to SDGs 9 and 13: SDG 12 emphasizes sustainable consumption and production patterns, reducing waste, and efficient resource management. By promoting responsible consumption and production, it drives the demand for sustainable innovations, clean technologies, and climate-friendly practices, which aligns with SDG 9 and supports SDG 13.
SDG 13- Causal Link to SDGs 7, 9, and 12: SDG 13 focuses on mitigating climate change impacts and promoting adaptation measures. It necessitates the transition to renewable and clean energy sources (SDG 7), the adoption of sustainable practices in industries and infrastructure (SDG 9), and responsible consumption and production patterns (SDG 12) that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support climate resilience.
SDG 17- Causal Link to SDGs 7, 9, 12, and 13: SDG 17 underscores the importance of partnerships and collaboration in achieving the SDGs. It fosters cross-sector cooperation to mobilize resources, share knowledge, and drive innovation. Partnerships are instrumental in advancing SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (sustainable industry and infrastructure), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), and SDG 13 (climate action) by bringing together diverse stakeholders to collectively address these interconnected challenges.

These SDGs have a causal relationship where progress in one goal contributes to progress in others. Access to affordable and clean energy, sustainable industry and infrastructure, responsible consumption and production, and climate action are mutually reinforcing, and partnerships play a critical role in integrating efforts and driving sustainable development across these goals.

Through your innovative ideas, business models, and collaborations, you can drive positive change in various areas. Whether it’s providing affordable and clean energy, promoting sustainable industry and infrastructure, advocating responsible consumption and production, taking climate action, or fostering partnerships, entrepreneurs are demonstrating that economic growth can go hand in hand with social and environmental sustainability. We can inspire more entrepreneurs to join the journey towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Last post highlighted the checkpoints to consider while integrating the SDGs into business. This post covers possible risks for business if entrepreneures fail to think beforehand. In my next post let us review the causal relationships of these goals with other remaining SDGs.

Together, we can create a world where business success aligns with achieving the SDGs, bringing about lasting positive impacts for people and the planet