20 March 2017: The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and UN Global Compact have released resources that aim to assist the private sector in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

WBCSD’s online resource, titled ‘CEO Guide to the SDGs,’ seeks to increase engagement from chief executive officers (CEOs) and other global business leaders in the implementation of the SDGs. The Guide identifies actions that CEOs can take to begin to align their organizations with the SDGs. The resource includes sections titled: Business and Sustainable Development Commission; The SDGs and the Role of Business; Implications for Your Company; Action Points; WBCSD as an Enabler for Action at Scale; and Stay Informed.

The report highlights key points from the Business and Sustainable Development Commission’s January 2017 report, titled ‘Better Business, Better World,’ to help companies act on the findings. Implications for companies include: risks of inaction; capturing opportunities; governance and transparency; and the need for collaboration. [Publication: CEO Guide to the SDGs][WBCSD’s SDG Business Hub]

A new publication from PRI and the UN Global Compact, titled ‘Aligning Values: Why corporate pension plans should mirror their sponsors,’ addresses why CEOs should ensure their corporate pension plans mirror their sustainability values. It reviews benefits including improved investment performance, fulfilling fiduciary duty and managing regulatory risk, and boosting corporate sponsor credibility.

This publication notes that, “because many pensions are underfunded, a focus on growing them through responsible and sustainable investment – as part of a broader commitment to sustainability – contributes to a more secure retirement income for beneficiaries while also providing them with a world fit to retire into.” It concludes with several steps that can be taken to make a pension plan more sustainable, including: start conversations within governing bodies and with the corporate sponsor on responsible investment; seek feedback from beneficiaries on their attitude to responsible investment; begin conversations with services providers on their approaches to responsible investment; and access resources and training to raise the level of awareness of responsible investment on the plan governing body. [Publication: Aligning Values: Why Corporate Pension Plans Should Mirror Their Sponsors]