The 2030 Agenda is a global effort that embodies the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and universal aspirations for a better, more just, equitable, peaceful, and sustainable future.  The Agenda provides a framework that fosters collaboration across countries, mobilizes all stakeholders, and inspires action.

Achievement of the SDGs depends on the collaboration of the enablers of the sustainable development:

  • Countries – Government policies create socioeconomic conditions that enable the sustainable development environment;
  • Communities – Municipal authorities regulate and permit the development of land and property in their jurisdiction; and
  • Companies – The duty of care calls for the commitment and due diligence of businesses along the development value chain.

Realizing the SDGs is the responsibility of countries, national governments and all stakeholders.  It is the sovereign responsibility of countries to ensure that they apply the SDG agenda, where the national governments are primary responsibility for implementation of the Agenda.  It is also the responsibility of countries to ensure official statistics are available, accessible and used for impactful analysis and transparent decision-making.

It is primarily the responsibility of local governments to protect the citizens and biosphere of their communities.  Under applicable laws and regulations, local authorities have the competence to undertake and are responsible for necessary actions to protect their community from harm.  Where the law imposes a positive obligation to act, the local authorities must exercise the appropriate duty of care towards their residents.

Most large companies now have public climate strategies and targets, many of which include pledges that appear to significantly reduce or even eliminate their contributions to global warming.   The duty of care of companies imposes on them the responsibility and/or legal commitment to take reasonable actions to ensure no harm is caused to another person or their property and to ensure the safety or well-being of others.