Jessica Long, Managing Director, Accenture Strategy
Lisa Neuberger, Strategic Program & Operations, Associate Director Corporate Citizenship, Accenture
Jessica Long, Managing Director, Accenture Strategy
Lisa and I recently had the amazing opportunity to join a series of events surrounding the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held in New York City. We were invited to share our knowledge and expertise on how to permanently address poverty, injustice, climate change and other global issues.
2015 is a pivotal year for global development, marking the expiration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). On September 25, the United Nations convened a two-day Sustainable Development Summit, bringing together world leaders to discuss issues surrounding the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda and the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 17 SDGs were ratified by all 193 countries in the United Nations with aims that include eliminating poverty and hunger, reducing inequality, addressing climate change, creating sustainable cities and communities and encouraging responsible consumption.
Lisa and I are now working with our colleagues at Accenture to see what role businesses can play in helping to reach the ambitious goals. We started by looking at our own company. From powering offices with renewable energy, to promoting equality and job creation, we feel that Accenture is very well positioned to play a key role.
Accenture integrates sustainability into its own business practices and works with clients to help them to do the same -- and it's clear we're gaining momentum. We're moving the conversation around sustainability to focus on business value creation, within a complex and digitally disrupted world.
We believe that sustainability has evolved to be much more than just a "nice" thing for businesses to engage in. It's now become critical to driving business growth and innovation. And it goes to show that when businesses, civil society and governments work together, we can make a difference in very real ways.
Lisa Neuberger, Strategic Program & Operations, Associate Director Corporate Citizenship, Accenture