scholarly journals Is it possible to improve the international business action towards the sustainable development goals?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Celone ◽  
Antonello Cammarano ◽  
Mauro Caputo ◽  
Francesca Michelino
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate possible improvements in the pursuit of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by multinational enterprises (MNEs) through an analysis of the literature. Design/methodology/approach A critical framework based on Gleicher’s formula for change is provided after conducting a systematic literature review. Findings The best way to pursue the SDGs is through an integrated approach that recognises the importance of MNEs in terms of possibilities and power of action. Working towards the SDGs appears to be largely limited by three aspects of the problem: its complexity and wickedness, the genuine interest in reaching some SDGs, at the expense of profit and low foresight. Research limitations/implications A fundamental limitation of the study concerns, as in most of the literature on the matter, the impossibility of providing an optimal solution to the problem of meeting the SDGs, given their nature. However, formulating the best definition of the problem and its characteristics can contribute to making its management better. Social implications This study has social implications due to the extreme importance that many SDGs have with regard to democracy and social equity, beyond their environmental and economic aspects. Originality/value The claimed contribution is the value brought by the synthesis of several points of view, through the interdisciplinary analysis of the research question. The novelty consists in organising the literature according to the formula for change.

Electronic waste management and sustainable development goals

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalyan Bhaskar ◽  
Bipul Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Electronic Waste ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Goals

Purpose The purpose of this study is, first, to understand if the firms are displaying integrated approach toward electronic waste management and sustainability and, second, is there a business case for linking e-waste management with sustainable development goals (SDGs) pronounced by the United Nations. Design/methodology/approach This study conducts an extensive literature review to gather perspective from multiple disciplines and also carries out content analysis of annual reports/sustainability reports of the firms. Findings Bulk consumers have sustainability policies and/or strategies but many of these firms have not linked their e-waste management with their sustainability strategies practices. Also, based on the elaboration of different perspectives, this study provides an integrative framework that suggests focus of a particular perspective on a given SDG and commensurate business approach by the firms to find a synergy between the two. Research limitations/implications This study provides a wider perspective on the subject of electronic waste management and its linkage with SDGs to create business case, thus opening up many theoretical avenues. Practical implications The policy like extended producers’ responsibility has a clear practical implication in terms of creating reputational capital for the firms by linking electronic waste management and SDGs. Social implications The SDG, detailing clean water and sanitation by asking firms not to pollute water bodies by dumping the waste, has clear social implications. Originality/value This study is first of its kind to explore the linkage between electronic waste and SDGs to understand the business case. It also throws good insights on whether the firms use integrated approach toward electronic waste management and sustainability.

scholarly journals The Role of Multinational Enterprises in Achieving Sustainable Development - The Case of Huawei

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Claire Berning
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Published Data ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Social Contributions ◽  
Development Goals

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between business and sustainable development, particularly the role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) as possible driving force for achieving sustainability. By following an inductive case study approach and referring to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, the sustainable undertakings of the Chinese MNE Huawei are explored. Published data on Huawei’s website and online resources like annual reports, news announcements, sustainability and corporate social responsibility reports are used for this purpose. The main findings indicate that Huawei can promote sustainable development internationally on three different levels: (1) products/services, (2) business operations and (3) social contributions. Based on these findings, a systematic framework is derived to help illustrate possible and classify existing MNE’s sustainability activities, as well as the related main stakeholders. This paper is useful for scholars and practitioners alike as it shows the compatibility of success in business with sustainability, as well as the potential of MNEs to contribute to sustainable development.             Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals, business, multinational enterprises, emerging markets

Reducing corruption and bribery in Africa as a target of the sustainable development goals: applying indicators for assessing performance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kempe Ronald Hope, Sr.
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Ethical Behaviour ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Illegal Activities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess African performance for substantially reducing all forms of corruption and bribery on the continent by 2030, through the indicators for achieving Target 16.5 of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the available and accessible relevant data from credible sources, this work quantifies, outlines and analyses the relationship between corruption/bribery and sustainable development as it applies primarily to sub-Saharan Africa; assesses the trends in the region through the official indicators for achieving Target 16.5 of the SDGs; and recommends other indicators for assessing ethical behaviour in African political, administrative and business leadership and institutions for achieving sustainable development and improved ethical performance towards significant reductions in all manifestations of bribery and corruption on the continent by 2030. Findings Corruption and bribery are found to affect all SDG-related sectors, undermining development outcomes and severely compromising efforts to achieve the SDGs in Africa. Consequently, prioritising corruption reduction including from money laundering, bribery and other illegal activities is a necessary requirement for achieving sustainable development, good governance, building effective and inclusive institutions as required by SDG 16, and funding the achievement of the SDGs. Originality/value The main value of the paper is the insights it provides through the very comprehensive compilation of statistical information that quantifies, and with analysis, the corruption/bribery avenues and the resultant deleterious effects on sustainable development in Africa.

Changing the Boundaries of Expectations

2018 ◽  
pp. 138-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Munro
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Shared Value ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The World ◽  
Csr Strategy ◽  
World Economic ◽  
Development Goals

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, incorporating the Business and Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC), has stated more rapid attention needs to be directed to implementation of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (also known as Global Goals) by 2030, and this is particularly the case in developing countries. Strategy with this type of inclusion is at the forefront of the solution to current global climatic change and escalating social problems such as poverty, hunger, and inequality. This chapter argues that multinational enterprises (MNEs) are in an excellent position to implement Social Initiatives (SIs) as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework and incorporate this into their CSR strategy. This will allow MNEs to be key instigators of SDG implementation and collaboration across sectors, governments, and public and private entities. This chapter provides an explanation of the various frameworks that support MNEs to implement SDGs, and describes the requirements for implementation, followed by a summary of 15 case studies where SDGs have been successfully implemented within a Shared Value and CSR context.

Using an artificial neural network for estimating sustainable development goals index

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 1023-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed-Hadi Mirghaderi
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Neural Networks ◽  
Artificial Neural Network ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Artificial Neural Networks ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Artificial Neural

PurposeThis paper aims to develop a simple model for estimating sustainable development goals index using the capabilities of artificial neural networks.Design/methodology/approachSustainable development has three pillars, including social, economic and environmental pillars. Three clusters corresponding to the three pillars were created by extracting sub-indices of three 2018 global reports and performing cluster analysis on the correlation matrix of sub-indices. By setting the sustainable development goals index as the target variable and selecting one indicator from each cluster as input variables, 20 artificial neural networks were run 30 times.FindingsArtificial neural networks with seven nodes in one hidden layer can estimate sustainable development goals index by using just three inputs, including ecosystem vitality, human capital and gross national income per capita. There is an excellent similarity (>95%) between the results of the artificial neural network and the sustainable development goals index.Practical implicationsInstead of calculating 232 indicators for determining the value of sustainable development goals index, it is possible to use only three sub-indices, but missing 5% of precision, by using the proposed artificial neural network model.Originality/valueThe study provides additional information on the estimating of sustainable development and proposes a new simple method for estimating the sustainable development goals index. It just uses three sub-indices, which can be retrieved from three global reports.

scholarly journals Intellectual Work as an Instrument to Ensure the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (516) ◽  
pp. 217-223
Author(s):  
O. O. Khandii ◽  
◽  
M. D. Kramchaninova ◽  
A. I. Liedovska ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Intellectual Work ◽  
Intellectual Activity ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Impact

The article explores the role and contribution of intellectual work to the process of ensuring and improving the main aspects of human life in accordance with the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Intellectual work is considered as an important resource for the creation of high-quality, innovative production, which provides for solution of important global problems of sustainable development. As part of a multilateral integrated approach, the impact of intellectual work results on the achievements of SDGs is researched. It is determined that the SDGs are interconnected and reinforce each other in the process of achievement, which is why their results are also comprehensive, that is, the result of improvements in the field of one goal is the way to achieve another one. A reflection of the dominant role of intellectual work in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is the ninth SDGs – innovation and infrastructure. The development of technologies, creation of innovations and breakthrough solutions are crucial in the context of achieving the SDGs, and, accordingly, intellectual work, intellectual property and innovations are increasingly becoming socially significant and, due to the increased importance, need developing and implementing the policy of the integrity of scientific research along with protecting their results. Prospect for further research in this direction can be the issues of enhancing the efficiency of intellectual workers and increasing the opportunities to use the potential of intellectual activity for the further development of society.

Ambitious UN global goals may falter in execution

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Member States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals

Subject An assessment of the prospects for the SDGs Significance UN member states on September 25 ratified a new set of global benchmarks, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), following the expiry of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) this year. The 17 new goals, with 114 outcome targets, have already drawn criticism for being overly ambitious and lacking direction. Impacts The UN's Paris Climate Talks (COP21) later this year will be heavily influenced by the number of climate goals set out in the new SDGs. NGOs will alter policies to align with the SDG agenda, soliciting funds to broaden programmes beyond the MDG-focus of the last 15 years. Governments and NGOs will increasingly ask international businesses and financial institutions to collaborate on achieving the SDGs.

Sustainable development goals: transportation, health and public policy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vahid Mohamad Taghvaee ◽  
Abbas Assari Arani ◽  
Mehrab Nodehi ◽  
Jalil Khodaparast Shirazi ◽  
Lotfali Agheli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Policy Network ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Ruling Elite ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals

Purpose This study aims to assess and decompose the sustainable development using the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Iran in 2018, for proposing agenda-setting of public policy. Design/methodology/approach It ranks the SDGs not only in Iran but also in the region and the world to reveal the synergetic effects. Findings Based on the results, subaltern-populace generally suffers from the hegemonic domination of ruling elite-bourgeois, lack of strong institutions, heterogeneous policy networks and lack of advocacy role of non-governmental organizations, due to no transparency, issues in law or no rule of law, no stringent regulation, rent, suppression and Mafia, all leading to corruption and injustice. Practical implications To stop the loop of corruption-injustice, Iran should homogenize the structure of the policy network. Furthermore, the failed SDGs of the three-geographic analysis are the same in a character; all of them propose SDG 3, good health and well-being as a serious failed goal. Social implications In this regard, strong evidence is the pandemic Coronavirus, COVID 19 since 2019, due to its highly-disastrous consequences in early 2020 where the public policymakers could not adopt policies promptly in the glob, particularly in Iran. Originality/value In Iran, in addition to this, the malfunction of health is rooted in “subjective well-being” and “traffic deaths,” respectively. Concerning the transportations system in Iran, it is underscored that it is damaging the sustainable development from all the three pillars of sustainable development including, economic, social and environmental.

The pyrrhic victory of FinTech and its implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: evidence from fieldwork in rural Zambia

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-340
Author(s):  
Sydney Chikalipah
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Mobile Money ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Financial Exclusion ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Rural Zambia ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis study investigates the possible effect of mobile money services, which forms part of FinTech, in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Design/methodology/approachThis study uses field data from the Chongwe district of Zambia. The data were collected in 2019.FindingsThe findings strongly suggest that (1) the factors that hinder access to credit and savings by the poor do not simply recede following the adoption of mobile money services and (2) that mobile money is not a silver bullet of ending financial exclusion but merely a tool which contributes to other financial inclusion strategies.Practical implicationsThis study argues that mobile money is winning the battle but losing the war – implying that the service is mainly used to transfer funds (OTC transactions) among users.Originality/valueThis is the first study to have been conducted in Zambia to assess the possible contributing effect of FinTech (mobile money) on SDGs.

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