Sustainability in Troubled Times
We live in times of uncertainty and global (dis)order. „Understanding global mega-trends is crucial. We live in times of multiple, evolving and mutually-reinforcing shifts“, says UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He adds: „These dynamics, of geopolitical, demographic, climatic, technological, social and economic nature, enhance threats and opportunities on an unprecedented scale.“ Therefore sustainability in troubled times is the key topic of this Sustainability Yearbook 2017, edited by macondo publishing. In the opening essay, Elmer Lenzen takes a critical look at the relationship between democracy and globalization. For decades this combination was a formula for success. Now both are experiencing troubled times. UN Global Compact founding director Georg Kell and Princeton professor Larry Diamond, who are well- known figures in this field, explain some of the reasons why in a profound interview. One reason is that today’s world is becoming more fragmented. So how can sustainability work in these times? It can work if we focus on the needs of the present without compromising the abilities of the future, says Global Compact Action Platform fellow Richard Roberts, and by utilizing the advantages of tomorrow. But doing the right thing in critical times is also a question of attitude. The entrepreneur Richard Branson and the actor Colin Firth both show in their own ways that sustainability means authenticity.
We live in times of uncertainty and global (dis)order. „Understanding global mega-trends is crucial. We live in times of multiple, evolving and mutually-reinforcing shifts“, says UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He adds: „These dynamics, of geopolitical, demographic, climatic, technological, social and economic nature, enhance threats and opportunities on an unprecedented scale.“ Therefore sustainability in troubled times is the key topic of this Sustainability Yearbook 2017, edited by macondo publishing.
In the opening essay, Elmer Lenzen takes a critical look at the relationship between democracy and globalization. For decades this combination was a formula for success. Now both are experiencing troubled times. UN Global Compact founding director Georg Kell and Princeton professor Larry Diamond, who are well- known figures in this field, explain some of the reasons why in a profound interview. One reason is that today’s world is becoming more fragmented. So how can sustainability work in these times?
It can work if we focus on the needs of the present without compromising the abilities of the future, says Global Compact Action Platform fellow Richard Roberts, and by utilizing the advantages of tomorrow. But doing the right thing in critical times is also a question of attitude. The entrepreneur Richard Branson and the actor Colin Firth both show in their own ways that sustainability means authenticity.
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JAPAN<br />
and the SDGs<br />
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By Yuko Ishikawa and Kana Kobayashi<br />
In May 2016, the Japanese government established a cab<strong>in</strong>et<br />
body, the Susta<strong>in</strong>able Development Goals (SDGs) Promotion<br />
Headquarters, to promote the SDGs. The Headquarters is composed<br />
of the Prime M<strong>in</strong>ister as the Chief; the Chief Cab<strong>in</strong>et<br />
Secretary and Foreign M<strong>in</strong>ister as the Deputy Chiefs; and all<br />
other m<strong>in</strong>isters as the members. The SDGs Promotion Roundtable<br />
was established under the control of the Promotion<br />
Headquarters. At the roundtable meet<strong>in</strong>gs, a wide range of<br />
relevant people (e.g., adm<strong>in</strong>istrative agency personnel, NGO<br />
and nonprofit personnel, experts, private-sector personnel,<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational organization officials, and various other organization<br />
members) exchange their op<strong>in</strong>ions.<br />
After the public comments and op<strong>in</strong>ions of people <strong>in</strong> various<br />
sectors were sought at the meet<strong>in</strong>gs, the SDGs Implementation<br />
Guid<strong>in</strong>g Pr<strong>in</strong>ciples were set <strong>in</strong> December 2016 <strong>in</strong> a manner<br />
that reflected these op<strong>in</strong>ions and comments. The basic concept<br />
underly<strong>in</strong>g the Implementation Guid<strong>in</strong>g Pr<strong>in</strong>ciples is: “Aim<br />
to become a leader toward a future where susta<strong>in</strong>able and<br />
resilient improvement of the economy, society, and environment<br />
is atta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>tegrated manner while leav<strong>in</strong>g no one<br />
beh<strong>in</strong>d.” To enable the mobilization of extensive measures and<br />
resources <strong>in</strong> an effective and consistent manner <strong>in</strong> cooperation<br />
with all stakeholders, the government worked together with<br />
all relevant m<strong>in</strong>istries and government agencies and set out<br />
matters such as the vision, priority issues (the core of efforts),<br />
implementation pr<strong>in</strong>ciples, promotion framework, followups,<br />
reviews, and <strong>in</strong>dividual measures. In addition, by us<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>dicators simultaneously disclosed publicly to understand<br />
the progress, the government is scheduled to conduct the first<br />
follow-up by the end of 2019.<br />
The Implementation Guid<strong>in</strong>g Pr<strong>in</strong>ciples clearly stipulate the<br />
follow<strong>in</strong>g contents regard<strong>in</strong>g the cooperation with privatesector<br />
companies.<br />
• Technologies and resources of private-sector companies are<br />
<strong>in</strong>dispensable for susta<strong>in</strong>able development. Some companies<br />
152<br />
Global Compact International Yearbook 2017
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