Introduction

This chapter sets out the concept of sustainable development, outlines the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and explores how the case has been made to encourage business engagement with these ambitious goals. While national governments clearly have a vital role to play in addressing the SDGs, the role of private-sector engagement with the SDGs may provide the ultimate testing ground for their successful implementation. Companies should look to adopt a strategic approach in assessing their current and possible future impacts on the SDGs with the focus being on looking to enhance positive impacts and to reduce negative impacts. In making such an assessment, companies should look to map the SDGs against their value chain and to engage with both internal and external stakeholders and particularly to give due attention to future impacts on the environment and to disadvantaged and marginalised groups. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.