Speeding ahead: Five ways for companies to move Forward Faster

We are halfway to 2030, but we are nowhere near halfway to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the 2030 Agenda. To secure a safer planet and future for all, businesses must accelerate their sustainability journeys, but they do not have to do it alone. 

By guiding companies on where to make the biggest, fastest impacts, Forward Faster provides the roadmap to a sustainable future, with practical and effective action guides across five key areas: Gender Equality, Climate Action, Living Wage, Water Resilience and Finance & Investment. 

To help familiarize you with the initiative, we have highlighted one practical action item from each guide to help get your company moving forward, faster. 

1. Gender Equality: Secure top-level support

Forward Faster's Gender Equality Action Guide recommends signing the Women's Empowerment Principles and committing to the seven outlined principles across the workplace, marketplace and community. By doing so, your company can play a pivotal role in promoting gender equality. Start by securing top-level support within your company, as this commitment should flow from top leadership down.

2. Climate Action: Review existing Sector-Specific Guidance and Projects

To combat climate change effectively, your company must understand how its operations affect and are affected by the industry it belongs to. Reviewing existing Sector-Specific Guidance and Projects will help you gather information relevant to your company's needs. By doing so, you can identify precise actions that will reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

3. Living Wage: Engage in meaningful discussions

Have candid discussions with employees and their representatives to determine whether company wages and supply chain operations support living wage expectations. Prioritize fair compensation to enhance the well-being of your employees and support a more equitable society.

4. Water Resilience: Harness the power of the internet

Use the Water Action Hub to map water basins where your company operates or has significant interest. By internally disclosing this information to the CEO Water Mandate Secretariat, an initiative of the UN Global Compact in partnership with the Pacific Institute, you can help coordinate action to ensure the responsible use and conservation of this critical resource.

5. Finance & Investment: Commit to sustainable finance

The world will need to spend between $US 3-5 trillion annually to meet the 2030 Agenda. Join the Advanced Group of the CFO Coalition for the SDGs, where you can access valuable resources and network with peer CFOs who are embracing the sustainability transition. By aligning your financial strategies with the SDGs, you can drive positive impact while positioning your company for lasting success and innovation in a changing world. 

Incorporating these actions into your business operations is not just about being sustainable—it's about being a forward thinker, doer and leader. By making these changes, your company can lead the charge towards a more equitable, resilient and sustainable world. 

History has taught us that the leaders who succeed are the ones who meet the needs of the future by moving forward. To achieve the SDGs by 2030, we need forward thinkers, doers, builders, changers, movers, leaders. Because right now, only 15 per cent of the SDGs are on track for 2030. We must be more ambitious. Don't fall behind the times. Join Forward Faster and take action today.