Tata Group, DNV GL launch 'Future of Spaceship Earth' report

Global assurance company DNV GL and the Tata Group launched its 'Future of Spaceship Earth' report on The United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Monday.

The report showcases 17 global companies that are driving extraordinary progress on each of the global goals. Among them, it highlights the Tata group's efforts to achieve the first sustainable development goal of eradicating poverty.

The report captures the Tata Group's approach towards poverty eradication in three ways: by producing affordable goods and services for the poor; creating employment opportunities, both within the companies and in the supply chain around them; and, finally, through involvement in communities beyond philanthropic activities toward more strategic efforts at creating value for the people.

"The SDGs present an unprecedented opportunity for business-led solutions to help address the world's biggest social and environmental challenges," said Dr. Mukund Rajan, Chairman of the Tata Global Sustainability Council.

DNV GL launched a project to forecast the extent to which the SDGs would be achieved by 2030, including private sector solutions for attaining them. Based on their analysis and inputs from 17 global companies, all members of the UN Global Compact, the Future of Spaceship Earth report was unveiled during the United Nations' Climate Week in New York in September 2016.

These companies featured are the Tata group, Danone, HiTechnologies, ARM, Symantec, Grundfos, SolarWorld, NYK, Hydro, Safaricom, Siemens, Marks and Spencer, Iberdrola, Cermaq, APP, Calvert Investments, and Unilever. The report not only focuses on the forecast for reaching the SDGs, it also dives into private sector solutions for attaining them.

"Through the report, we wanted to demonstrate how businesses are responding but also educate, inspire and encourage rapid learning and action," said Luca Crisciotti, Chief Executive Officer, Business Assurance, DNV GL.