UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030: Implementing the goals in partnership
Today, the Federal Council adopted the 2018 Country Report "Switzerland's implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". The analysis shows that Switzerland has been successfully living the basic conviction of the UN sustainability agenda - constructive cooperation between businesses, the state and civil society - in many areas for years. economiesuisse welcomes the majority of the country report.
The UN sustainability agenda (Agenda 2030) has succeeded in outlining a common framework for all actors to work together in partnership. The country report published by the Federal Council makes it clear that Switzerland is well on its way in this regard. In many areas, companies and the state or businesses and civil society are already cooperating successfully and have thus established solutions with model character; these include the dual education system, the social partnership or the comparatively stably financed pension system.
Switzerland does not need to shy away from international comparison and occupies top positions in important areas such as environmental protection, social cohesion, quality of life and sustainable business.
Anchoring the SDGs in global politics
economieuisse is convinced that an institutional anchoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Swiss politics is necessary. In the context of the eighth SDG target (SDG 8), which aims at decent work and economic growth, it becomes particularly visible that business and sustainability are not opposites. After all, the UN Sustainable Development Goals are in the economy's own interest: Where poverty dwindles and legal certainty grows, markets grow.
This leads to prosperity, peace through trade and investment. Through its engagement with international institutions such as the WTO, OECD, World Bank and IMF, Switzerland contributes internationally to SDG 8, for example by working to improve market access for developing countries. Swiss business is also strongly opposed to protectionist efforts.
Companies assume joint responsibility
The number of Swiss companies integrating the SDGs into their strategy and thus into their core business is steadily increasing. However, there is still a need to raise awareness of the 2030 Agenda in wide circles of the business community, to highlight the diverse business opportunities and to promote effective reporting on what companies have achieved. economiesuisse actively supports this awareness-raising and implementation work.
Intensify cooperations
Ultimately, according to economiesuisse, it is important to note that there is a very fine line between overregulation and efforts to strengthen the economy in its own responsibility. Both partners have a duty here: the state in that it grants companies maximum freedom in implementation, and the companies in that they assume their responsibility. What is needed are strategies and implementation, not legal disputes. Because without the involvement of the private sector and without entrepreneurial solutions, the global challenges cannot be overcome.
More reflections on this topic can be found at this Link from economiesuisse
