Corporate Support for the SDGs: A South African Perspective

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015 along with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Although led by member states, the post-2015 development agenda encourages the private sector to support the SDGs in partnership w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of corporate citizenship 2016-12, Vol.2016 (64), p.98-120
Main Author: Malan, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business structures
Environmental management
Green businesses
International cooperation
Philanthropy
Renewable energy
Social conditions & trends
Social goals
Social responsibility
South Africa
Studies
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable development
Sustainable economic development
Sustainable global economy
Sustainable management
Treaties
United Nations
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Summary:The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015 along with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Although led by member states, the post-2015 development agenda encourages the private sector to support the SDGs in partnership with governments and civil society. Historically, this support would form part of more traditional (philanthropic) corporate responsibility programmes, but increasingly such corporate activities are viewed as strategic ways to create value. A common problem with universal goals is that they do not provide enough local context and hence their pursuit does not provide meaningful impact at the local level. With reference to Integrative Social Contracts Theory it is argued that universal goals can be more meaningful when interpreted as a hypothetical macro contract, while at the same time supported by practical activities that take the local context into account (micro contracts). The most recent sustainability reports and Communications on Progress (COPs) of South African companies who are active participants in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) were analysed in order to assess their support for the SDGs. Although not empirically verifiable, it is postulated that the low levels of disclosure by South African corporations indicate a lack of engagement with important societal issues.
ISSN:1470-5001
2051-4700
DOI:10.9774/GLEAF.4700.2016.de.00011