Photo by: Duane Daws
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."