India Has To Submit Sustainability Goals Report Card: UN GCNI Executive Director

In these critical times when the pandemic has halted operations globally and the economies are in shackles, broader decisions taking into account sustainability criteria have become crucial. The 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all Member States of the United Nations including India in 2015 by the United Nations Global Impact (UNGC) has been a strong framework for leaders to take action. The time has never been more critical to further India’s goals towards sustainability.

India's local network Global Compact Network India (GCNI), of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), is the first local network globally to be established with full legal recognition. GCNI has been providing a common platform for Indian businesses, academic institutions, and civil society organizations to collaborate towards strengthening responsible business practices. Kamal Singh, Executive Director, United Nations - Global Compact Network India (GCNI) stated: "I am particularly sure that the government recognizes the need to further our SDG goals." He informed that India has to submit a report on how the country has fared in fulfilling its Sustainability Development Goals.

Kamal Singh was speaking at the BW Sustainability Dialogues virtual event organized by the BW Businessworld on the eve of World Environment Day, June 5th. In the event, industry leaders shared views on how India can put systems in place in every sector to make it an overall more sustainable ecosystem. 

Currently, the most important challenge for all countries is how to handle the pandemic and consequences. Keeping this in mind, UNGC is conducting its 20th Anniversary Leaders Summit virtually on 15-16 June under the theme – ‘Recover Better, Recover Stronger, Recover Together’ in response to Covid-19. The India Session is happening on 16th June sharing the country’s efforts to employ SDGs (and 10 UNGC principles) as an effective response to the pandemic outbreak. GCNI informed the session will showcase best practices from India and case studies displaying how India Inc. is going to build on the lessons learned during this pandemic period to sustain what’s coming ahead of us in the near future. According to Singh, to tackle the challenges of the outbreak, one should understand: it’s all about being responsible and accountable (to what's happening around us). Singh stated that the country needs to know and be conscious of how much natural resources is being used and what needs to be done to ensure its judicious utilization.