FCCI calls on corporates to engage with environmental SDGs

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) on Thursday organised a conference on Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs)- A Call to Corporate Sector Action in New Delhi.

Erik Solheim, Executive Director of UN Environment was present in the event.

The conference gave platform to the corporate experts from the field of sustainability to engage effective dialogue on how the global sustainable goals can help them streamline their efforts and understand what it all means for their business-both now and in the long term.

The FICCI conceived the idea of this conference with an objective of creating the discourse around corporate role as well as enabling policies that will help to articulate and deliver on the SDGs.

A. Didar Singh, Secretary General of FICCI said, "We at FICCI believe that it is significant to have sustainable business with responsible and inclusive growth. Out of the ambitious 17 SDGs the conference deliberated on the three environmental SDGs cutting across corporate sectors, such as- Sustainable Waste Management in Cities, Sustainable Consumption of Natural resources and Sustainable forestry and Agriculture."

Bhaskar Chatterjee, Advisor to the FICCI and former director general and CEO of Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, said that there is a need to have deep and abiding commitment in engaging corporate sectors in the discussions on SDGs.

"There has been minimal conversation with the private sector on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is heartening to see the shift in the UN to embrace the private sector for sustainable development goals. The role of corporate sector has gone on unheralded. Creating viable business models lies at the heart of sustainability."

Solheim said businesses are a crucial part of the SDGs and every environmental problem can be seen as a business opportunity.

"There are potentially three areas that need cooperation - fourth industrial revolution, addressing pollution issues and protection of nature. In order to address plastic waste problem, we need to build a new plastic economy, either by recycling or finding substitutes. One needs to understand how businesses can serve society and how societies can benefit from corporates," he said.

Mukund Rajan, Chair, FICCI Environment Committee, Chief Ethics Officer and Chairman, Tata Global Sustainability Council said, "India is in the centre of global debate for issues such as, growing population, unregulated urbanization, and requirement of international cooperation for addressing biodiversity and global warming. Corporates need to put protocol to embrace circular economy. Corporates are already taking initiatives that are aligned with the SDGs. There is a need to have substantial data to measure SDGs through existing actions of the corporate.