https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Transparency, human survival highlighted in panel discussion on business and SDGs at Responsible Business Forum

Transparency, human survival highlighted in panel discussion on business and SDGs at Responsible Business Forum

Photo by Duane Daws

1st September 2017

By: Sane Dhlamini

Creamer Media Senior Contributing Editor and Researcher

     

Font size: - +

The second day of the Responsible Business Forum kicked off in Johannesburg on Friday with a focus on business’s role in the realisation of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by world leaders in September 2015.

The event was attended by more than 400 delegates from across the continent to discuss accelerating and taking to scale innovations to end poverty, reduce inequalities, address climate change and achieve a healthy society.

Speaking during a panel discussion, corporate sustainability reporting company Global Reporting Initiative CEO Tim Mohin said transparency was key to all role-players involved in the realisation of the SDGs.

Discussing SDG number 15, which relates to life on land, Dr Urgessa Kaba, who represented the Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, shared how his country was dealing with land degradation.

Kaba pointed out that Ethiopia was the first country in Africa to implement the green economy strategy.

“Through mass mobilisation and various restoration initiatives, we have been able to convince our people to donate their time to help us restore land.”

However, he said their challenges included inadequate investments, limited technological support and limited availability of quality input.

Environmental organisation Conservation International Africa Field Division senior VP Michael O’Brien-Onyeka said people need nature to thrive. “While grappling with the high level of unemployment in Africa, as well as food insecurity, we are eroding nature and destroying our planet. Our task is not to 'save the planet' but to save human beings using nature."

Edited by David Shepherd
Proof Reader

Comments

Showroom

Immersive Technologies
Immersive Technologies

Immersive Technologies is the world's largest, proven and tested supplier of simulator training solutions to the global resources industry.

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Universal Storage Systems (SA)
Universal Storage Systems (SA)

South African leader in Steel -Racking, -Shelving, and -Mezzanine flooring. Universal has innovated an approach which encompasses conceptualising,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.092 0.153s - 137pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now