Sustainable development is a guiding principle for achieving human development goals while preserving natural systems’ capacity to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services that the economy and society rely on.
While micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) may appear small in comparison to large corporations, they have a significant impact on employment, economic growth, and sustainability. In general, SMEs outnumber large corporations while contributing significantly to global economic growth and job creation, particularly in developing countries.
According to World Bank data, SMEs account for approximately 90% of businesses and 50% of global Gross Domestic Product. Additional calculations by the World Bank indicate that SMEs have the potential to generate the 600 million jobs required to absorb the global workforce by 2030.
The SDG targets are high and require a change in public and private activities. New business models, new innovation/technology, and more sustainable and ethical business practices are all results of this transformation. Opening up new business opportunities for the private sector, MSMEs in particular benefits. It is expected that sustainable business models will open more than $12 trillion in global GDP, 380 million jobs, and have more than half of them located in developing countries. Opportunities for MSMEs have been found under each goal, Global Sustainability Development Summit 2021 will focus on business examples and SDG-supporting good practice initiatives relevant to MSMEs.
Program Schedule – 16.00-18.30 CEST
- 27th Aug’21 : Precursor
- 28th Aug’21: SDG 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
- 03rd Sept’21: SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
- 04th Sept’21: SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- 10th Sept’21: SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
- 11th Sept’21: SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
- 17th Sept’21: SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
- 18th Sept’21: SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
- 24th Sept’21: SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
- 25th Sept’21: SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
- 01st Oct’21: SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
- 02nd Oct’21: SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
- 08th Oct’21: SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
- 09th Oct’21: SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
- 15th Oct’21: SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
- 16th Oct’21: SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
- 22nd Oct’21: SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
- 23rd Oct’21: SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
