Side Event on Global Partnerships for “Transforming our World” Drew Together Practitioners of Sustainable Development
“We want to connect the private sector’s greatest strengths with the public sector’s greatest challenges”
- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, New York, 7 May 2013
24 September 2015, New York, USA – This side event drew together practitioners of sustainable development to examine the contribution and synergies of private companies practitioners, the UN and civil society to forge partnerships to help ensure the implementation of the 2030 Development Agenda and the transformation of our world. Speakers from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Novozymes, United Nations Foundation, Honeywell and Save the Children convened and offered insights into how to pursue and implement effective partnerships.
Ms. Anne-Christine Eriksson (Deputy Director, UNHCR New York Office) reminded all of the importance of leaving no one behind, especially refugees, IDPs and the stateless. Following startling statistics on their growing numbers and disposition, she noted that UNHCR’s partnership focus was to empower these groups to be economically self-sufficient, and highlighted this as an opportunity for private partnerships. In sharing examples of the types of partnerships formed by UNHCR, Ms. Eriksson highlighted the benefits of increasing private sector engagement, and demonstrated how UNHCR’s approach from “durable solutions” to “solutions” spanned both regional and global participation.
Professor Claus Stig Pedersen (Senior Director, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Novozymes) then presented “Novozymes: Partnering for Impact” and explained how Novozymes is using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a lens through which to view their future development. He noted that while Novozymes has for some time already been involved in products that reduce water and energy consumption in homes and manufacturing, the company goals and priorities fit with the SDGs and allow them to optimise their company around this and to maximise their contribution is a manageable and assessable way. Through using Novozymes as an example, supporting and promoting partnering for sustainable development outcomes was seen as both profitable from an environmental as well as economic viewpoint.
Ms. Mara van Loggerenberg (Senior manager, Policy Initiatives, United Nations Foundation) identified that while there were partnerships undertaken with, for instance, the UN and governments organisations, the focus of the UN Foundation was now of public-private partnerships; holistic, cross-cutting and collaborative partnerships. Ms. Loggerenberg provided many examples of such UN Foundation partnerships, and demonstrated that businesses are now seeing partnerships as a market opportunity, rather than charity, and as no longer just the smart thing to do but the right thing.
Further private industry perspective on sustainable global partnerships was provided by Mr. Evan van Hook (Corporate Vice President, Health, Safety, Environment, Product Stewardship and Sustainability, Honeywell). Mr. van Hook provided extensive discussion on how and why Honeywell operates in relation SDGs, and provided insight into the differing rationale of other companies in pursuing sustainable development public-private partnerships. He noted that since the product and service offerings of Honeywell relate to areas of sustainable development (for example energy efficiency, biofuels, and water safety equipment), it is less challenging for Honeywell to align with the SDGs than other industries. However, it demonstrated that effective partnerships could be pursued.
For the final side event presentation, Ms. Debra Jones (Director and United Nations Representative, New York Advocacy Office, Save the Children) provided insight into the participation of Save the Children in partnerships. She noted that while our success will be judged by the outcomes in 2030, there needs to be a “reality check”: a need to see action to inspire action; cannot afford a slow start in the delivery of the 2030 Agenda; don’t be afraid to prioritise; and there is a need to think across short-term to long-term, and with interim benchmarks and measureable indicators of success.
Key across all our presenters was that the 2030 Agenda is an opportunity for business to engage in sustainable development partnerships, and that it can be environmentally, socially, as well as economically profitable for all parties. And while without action from business there will be no sustainable development, without sustainable development there will be no future business.