Backing the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Westpac has publicly supported the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals – a new global agenda laying out a roadmap over the next 15 years to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and protect the planet.
 

In launching the CEO Statement of Support Alice Cope, Executive Manager of the Global Compact Network Australia – the Australian business-led network of the UN Global Compact – said while governments hold primary responsibility for the SDGs, the private sector is indispensable to achieving the goals.
 

“Today, with this Statement, these business leaders are demonstrating private sector willingness to contribute to realising a sustainable future for Australia and the world.”
 

“There are a range of ways the private sector can contribute to the SDGs – through responsible business operations, new business models, investment, innovation and technology, and collaboration,” said Ms Cope.
 

“We are seeing companies embrace the SDGs both in recognition of the critical role they have in contributing to the agenda but also the upside to their businesses in doing so. The SDGs provide a framework for both risk management and opportunity. Businesses that are able to offer solutions to the local and global sustainability challenges represented by the goals will build resilience, find new markets and position themselves competitively for the future,” said Ms Cope.
 

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