In current international affairs, we would like to highlight the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SD Gs). More than a year after they were adopted, the European Commission European Commission has launched a new package of measures aimed at marking the next steps towards sustainable development. A 2030 agenda in which the private sector has great relevance. In addition, the SDG Index has been launched in Spain, analyzing the status of the SDGs in Europe.
At the global level, we highlight Costa Rica's commitment to implement a national CSR plan, which will be drawn up with the support of Forética.
Costa Rica to develop a National CSR Plan with the support of Forética
In order to have a mechanism to encourage and promote responsible management in companies and the public sector, Costa Rica will develop a National Social Responsibility Plan. For its preparation, the Government will have the support of Forética, the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), in coordination with the Second Vice Presidency of the Republic, the Office of the First Lady and the support of the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID) and the Delegation of the European Union.
The diagnosis has generated a consultation process by the government with all related stakeholders, such as the business sector, public administrations, academia and civil society. The consultations, which ended on December 13, are aimed at guaranteeing the legitimacy and viability of the process and promoting the empowerment of the stakeholders involved.
As part of the roadmap, the Seminar "Elaboration of the National Policy on Social Responsibility in Costa Rica" was held to define the keys to the Public Policy on Social Responsibility and to promote socially responsible practices in companies as well as in public and private institutions.
The objective of this policy will be to contribute to the sustainable development of Costa Rican society, promoting responsible management models that ensure the competitiveness and growth of the economy, as well as the development of people and respect for the environment, according to Jesús Rodríguez Andía, Spanish ambassador.
European Commission launches new package of measures on next steps towards sustainable development
On November 22, the European Commission presented its strategic plan on sustainable development. It sets out the next priorities to be taken into account by the EU with a view to the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. An agenda that, according to the Commission, establishes a unique opportunity for a better future from a European vision in which sustainability is defended.
The Commission's Sustainable Development Agenda will be led by First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and will be allocated a budget line, the sole purpose of which is to ensure its implementation and to support the efforts being made by the member states.
You can find more information in this article by Tomás Sercovich, Director of External Relations at Forética.
Spanish presentation of the SDG Index & Dashboard 2016
The Spanish Network for Sustainable Development (REDS) has presented the Spanish edition of the report "SDG Index & Dashboard 2016″ (Sustainable Development Goals Index), prepared by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network in collaboration with Bertelsmann Stiftung and Fundación Telefónica. To this end, it has organized a round table that analyzed the keys to monitoring the 2030 Agenda and the state of implementation of the SDGs in Spain. The presentation, which was attended by Forética, highlighted the keys to this index, as well as explaining where Spain stands and why.
This pioneering report shows the degree of compliance with the SDGs in 149 countries, and promotes debate on how the implementation and monitoring of the 2030 Agenda is being carried out in Spain by public administrations and the private sector.
