Business Sector Efforts and Challenges to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

: A Case Study from Japan

Abstract

To achieve the new global agenda—the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—UN member states and all stakeholders in civil society have their own respective roles to play. The SDGs are to be implemented in the spirit of global partnership. The business sector is expected to contribute in various ways, such as by promoting sustainable consumption and production, decent work for all, and so on. This paper sheds light on two international initiatives aim to promote business engagement in implementation of the SDGs: the Business Call to Action (BCtA) and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). This paper asks how they can enhance contributions from the business sector to achieve the SDGs by 2030, and asks what kinds of additional functions are necessary. To answer these questions, this paper compares the current services of the BCtA and the UNGC with actual needs as revealed by a survey by the UNGC Network Japan (GCNJ) and interviews with Japanese companies. The paper concludes with key factors needed for the BCtA and the UNGC to help the business sector be effectively involved in implementation of the SDGs.