Collaboration is critical in driving sustainability development globally, stakeholders have said during the Global Reputation Forum’s commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD), held in London.
With the world six years away from the 2030 deadline for achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), only 12% of the targets for which data exists are on track, but almost one half are off track and more than one thirds are either failing to advance or worse still, regressing below the baseline set in 2015.
Progress so far is said to be nowhere near where it is needed.
This was said at the global forum’s hosting of world leaders, dignitaries, and entrepreneurs at the Social Impact Edition of the GRF which kicked off March 8, 2024 at the House of Lords, House of Parliament, Westminster, United Kingdom.
Global Reputation Forum is a leading management firm that manages local and international reputations for individuals, organisations, and brands.
According to the Chief Executive, Dr Rex Idaminabo, the 2024 Social Impact Edition is aimed at fostering women’s inclusion on all levels globally.
During a themed session of keynote addresses, titled: “Global Collaboration for Sustainable Development: The Role of Nations in Social Impact”, Dr Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim GCSK – Mauritian politician and biodiversity scientist who served as the 6th President of Mauritius, said the two interwoven sustainable development fields of environmental and social needs seem to have drifted apart from the way they measure progress and should work together.
“Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said and I quote: ‘Today’s global challenges, from the climate crisis to growing inequality and the governance of new technology, can only be resolved through dialogue and cooperation'”.
Dr Bibi said it is only through cross-sector, cross-industry and cross-society partnerships that “we can scale the societal commitments to which we hold ourselves accountable and protect the global commons”.
“So we need to explore and establish dynamic partnerships that explicitly expand our boundaries, particularly at the national and local levels where the necessary flexibility allows us to address locally relevant issues,” she said.
Dr Bibi urged the private sector to assume shared responsibility, in partnership with all other actors in society, to achieve these goals especially as they have the expertise, knowledge and capacity to contribute to their achievement, at the country and community levels.
Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, OPEC Governor for Nigeria, during his keynote presentation of “Social Impact of Energy Transition in Africa”, said Africa must develop from the known before it can transition to the unknown and must harness its vast natural resources and develop same for the good of its people.
He argued that the fossil fuel industry can and must be part of the solution.
Also, he said climate change enthusiasts must acknowledge fossil fuels as the fuel that aided the industrialization of advanced nations and come up with modern technologies that will further reduce emissions and not reduce production.
