The <scp>SDGs</scp> : A change agenda shaping the future of business and humanity at large

This editorial is the second in our BEER Spotlight Editorial Series, where we intend to shed light on important emerging topics business that think deserve more scholarly attention, both and beyond. Specifically, aim focus hot future-oriented related ethics, environment responsibility, which have relevance importance, expect gain traction attention over coming period. We sincerely hope these editorials will serve as eye openers stimulators for further knowledge generation within domain of journal. More specifically, this editorial, responsible engagement with Sustainability Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) context United Nations (UN) 2030 agenda. The UN agenda was launched 2015 intended an ambitious roadmap a sustainable future humanity at large. At heart agenda, there are 17 aimed reducing poverty hunger, protecting planet, promoting economic, social environmental prosperity. adopted by 197 member states, explicit call active participation private sector key partner, beyond usual, contributing future. Its evolution contents been discussed elsewhere, including extensive documentation (https://sdgs.un.org/). In approach SDGs from perspective, highlighting number questions believe require How much progress achieved general engagement, particular, especially given timeline its 169 associated targets (https://sdg-tracker.org/)? What opportunities challenges faced? can businesses do promote embrace pathway value creation shareholders society large? themes scholarship topic date, what salient gaps terms themes, topics, and/or less addressed? try address engaging way provide domain. set non-binding aspirational goals, identified propagated achieving all 2030. span three interlinked categories, primarily (alleviating health wellbeing, quality education, gender equality), economic (focusing decent work growth, industry, innovation infrastructure consumption production), (addressing clean energy issues, oceans life land below water, climate action). These blueprint peace prosperity people present framework change embodying urgent action nations. SDG 17, entailing partnership embodies spirit recognizing partnerships central ensure goals need mobilization range actors governments, sector, academia NGOs pushing progress, while 16 touches importance strengthening universal strong institutions. question here whether has any real date relation effective anticipated? Report 2022 (UNDESA, 2022) provides global overview implementation Agenda Development, using latest available data. It tracks regional towards in-depth analyses selected indicators each Goal. According Report, cascading crises put grave danger, confluence multi-faceted crises, dominated COVID-19, change, worldwide political turmoil, conflicts, turn creating spin-off impacts food nutrition, health, environment, security. affected risk. highlights magnitude details reversal years eradicating improving providing basic services. points out areas order rescue deliver meaningful planet recent statistics Social Progress Index, staggering 62 behind schedule some most prominent SDGs. For example, rate current still 257 close gap globally; 1 10 children exposed child labor; warming rise expected reach 3 degrees Celsius 2100; continue dump 8 million tons plastic every year 2022). alarming statistics, little doubt severely halted onset COVID-19 pandemic, magnified faced, 500 jobs lost globally mid-2020, thrown estimated 71 into extreme poverty. also increased domestic violence against women 30%, diverted resources away action, reduced GDP developing countries least 4% average Ultimately, suffered major hit setback escalation core progressive developmental Facing stark realities, we, scholars, academics, practitioners, policy makers citizens, faced two choices no gray area in-between. Either sit back watch depletion, even erosion, valued social, capital, human rights very own survival risk, or pull together serious, collaborative impactful While broader concerted needed policy-making governmental level certainly deserves but scope next section escalating how ethics sustainability needs evolve accelerate pace support transformations looking ahead. There moderate success hinges ability engage known resilience, ingenuity, innovation. their report Business Support SDGs, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) interesting insights plans, commitments, actions, 206 companies affiliated GRI. seem be prioritized include (Decent Work Economic Growth), 12 (Responsible Consumption Production) 13 (Climate Action), tackled (No Poverty) 2 (Zero Hunger) well 14 (Life Below Water). other words, affinity relating growth production activity linked many others predominantly nature (GRI, trends supported research conducted PwC KPMG. community showing greater understanding remains selective rather than holistic absence strategies make concrete goals. Schramade (2017), good reasons invest namely returns shareholders. Speaking instrumental language business, it makes sense those financial shareholders, thus optimizing synergy between Among people-oriented (Good Health Wellbeing) possibly investable, healthcare directly Goal, fewer investment Hunger), generally relegated micro finance institutions banks (Schramade, 2017). Planet investable appear 7 (Clean Affordable Energy) huge renewable side, followed 6 (Water Sanitation), Water) 15 Land) On 9 (Industry, Infrastructure Innovation) presents largest lucrative opportunity businesses, 11 (Sustainable Cities Communities) not only constitute world better place sizeable (Jamali et al., 2019). embedded heeded identifying relevant models leveraging win-win impact. Increasingly, look ahead, play role communications investors, particularly exponential impact investing (Johnson, 2021). Companies move exploration experimentation phase, identify Goals. Furthermore, views harness responsibilities citizens normative moral obligation assist (2017) identifies follow entailing: (1) SDGs; (2) assessing exposures, risks opportunities; (3) goal setting integration; (4) measurement reporting. simple useful entire article great reading overall. part puzzle achieve Indeed, should catalyst transformation, leading charge, agility, innovation, people-centered mindset. difference contribute world, injecting purpose mission traditional comprising purely commercial activities. intensely empowering vis-à-vis internal external stakeholders. As outlined above, activities undertaken pursuit return synergetic desirable entirely feasible. Businesses intently forcefully material industry operating models. They lead explore, engage, enact, enforce, monitor demonstrate Universe hugely immensely rewarding. wide examples regard (e.g. Unilever, Microsoft, KPMG, Philips, Novozymes), norm exception years. parallel, equally reflect problems shortcomings previous modes corporate responsibility literature now dealt several decades. Generations scholars explored CSR case provided evidence existence (Friede 2015; Margolis & Walsh, 2003). numerous elevated societal objectives strategy (Porter Kramer, 2011), becoming influential (Bocken 2014) alternative forms organizing emerged, hybrid organizations (Battilana Lee, 2014), entrepreneurs (Anand 2021), B Corps (Moroz 2018). know now. Yet, overall looked bleak, often marginal, add-on component tends symbolic (Bansal Clelland, 2004; Gray, 2010). Likewise, too emphasis placed outcomes, questioning performance achievement objectives, treating objective right (Barnett 2020; Kudlak systems-level concept; consequence, organization primary unit analysis, understand evaluate systems form of. keep mind parcel fabric ecosystems around them, they inherently importantly long-term recovery plan. To summarize, represent new ways thinking. ways, however, encounter same obstacles concepts had (Markovic learn past experiences avoid repeating mistakes. A specifically focused reveals offer so far scant thin does measure up aspirations professional duty activist engaged scholars. Considering meta pertaining Corporate Responsibility (CSR) general, note few recently published meta-analysis articles substantively title, abstract content. Lopez-Torres al. (2021) “Stakeholder Engagement, Compliance: Systematic Review 2021,” synthesizes main approaches, issues methodologies field 5 years, promising lines relationships Stakeholders, CSR, Human Resources Management. Another review presented Park (2022), entitled “The Grand Challenge Health: Urgent Call Business-Health Research.” Here, authors analyze business-health ascendancy Good Well-Being. Hishan (2020) focuses Climate Change Using Contracts: New Research Agenda” outlining conceptual model, contract theory, disaster mitigation unabated change. highlight Ramani presenting perspective “Nudging MNEs Action Goal Poverty).” broadly, large addressing different aspects touching Rathner, 2013, Socially Responsible versus Conventional Investment Funds; Khizar 2022, Conceptualization Measurement Challenges Orientation; 2021, Competitiveness Firms; Carter Easton, 2011, Supply Chain Management: Evolution Future Directions; Orientation Development; Katz Employee Green Behavior: Meta Analysis; Vysochan Accounting; Adhikariparajuli Implications Disclosure Higher Education). just reviews angles being scholarship. link obvious feasible, gone extra mile explicitly synthesize orientations implications regard. Finally, tool building transmitting knowledge, facilitating learning, raising public awareness, confidence credibility supporting disproving claims made regard, invite thoughtful, relevant, perspectives. journals join falls academic