Australia will, for the first time, join the global movement dedicated to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by commemorating SDG Flag Day. On 25 September, iconic Australian landmarks such as Melbourne Town Hall, the Old Parliament House, the Treasury Building in Canberra, the John Gorton Building in Canberra and Questacon will illuminate the SDG colours, while flags symbolising the SDGs will be raised nationwide. The event is a powerful reminder of the collective ambition to secure a sustainable future for all Australians.
The SDGs represent a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030, all people enjoy peace and prosperity. SDG Flag Day marks Australia’s commitment to these goals, celebrating its achievements while acknowledging the work that remains to achieve substantial progress.
The Sustainable Development Report shows that Australia holds an SDG Index Rank of 37 out of 166 countries, with an index score of 76.9. This ranking illustrates that Australia is on track to achieve approximately 51% of the SDG targets by 2030. The ranking system benchmarks Australia’s performance against other nations, highlighting both commendable strides and areas in need of continued effort.
Kate Dundas, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Australia says Australia is now recognised for the role in the global sustainability effort: “Australia is aligning with global best practices to help protect biodiversity and natural habitats, and harness the power of the wind, waves and sun, we are introducing new global standards on climate reporting set to transform how Australian businesses understand, manage, and transparently disclose climate risk, and we are working to improve labour rights within supply chains.”
Dundas added: “However, we are past the halfway mark to the SDG deadline, and we’re not half done. We face many significant challenges including an urgent energy transition, transitioning an economy historically reliant on fossil fuels and reducing our per capita material footprint, currently one of the highest in the world. With an abundance of resources, Australia has an unmatched potential to be a world leader in sustainability, particularly when it comes to renewable energy. There is a significant job ahead, and the business community has a critical role in helping navigate these challenges and driving sustainable progress.”
As the Country Network of the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, the UN Global Compact Network Australia urges Australians to use SDG Flag Day as an opportunity to educate themselves about the Sustainable Development Goals and their importance in fostering a more prosperous, equitable and greener Australia. Businesses are encouraged to display the SDG flags at their premises and engage their staff in conversations about their contributions to sustainability.
The UN Global Compact Network Australia oversees Australia’s Forward Faster initiative designed to help companies accelerate their efforts towards five key areas aligned with the SDGs: climate action, finance and investment, gender equality, living wage and water resilience. Over 20 Australian companies are currently participating, which means thousands of employees are learning about these key areas and how to integrate them into their company’s policies and operations.The UNGNCA is also holding an event in October, UNiting Business Live Australia to equip leaders with technical and actionable solutions to challenges at the intersection of net zero, nature-positive, human rights and governance.
For more information on the locations and timings for the SDG Flag Day activities, UNiting Business Live Australia or the Forward Faster initiative, please contact us on the details below.
About UN Global Compact Network Australia
As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations (UN) Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals. With more than 20,000 companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 62 Local Networks covering 67 countries, and 15 Country Managers establishing Networks in 34 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.
In Australia, UN Global Compact Network Australia (UNGCNA) brings together Australian participants of the UN Global Compact, including over 75 listed companies, other businesses, non-profits and universities, to advance the private sector’s contribution to sustainable development. We connect, enable and lead businesses and stakeholders to create a sustainable future by supporting businesses to act responsibly and helping them find opportunities to drive positive business outcomes.
https://unglobalcompact.org.au/
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