Davos, Switzerland

As leaders in business and Government convene in Davos, Switzerland, for the 2024 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, sustainable finance and investment are expected to take center stage. The release of the 2024 Global Risk Report from WEF underscores how private sector strategies that directly support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are absolutely critical. 

Amidst worsening geopolitical and economic crises, the report forecasts an increase in turbulence over the next 10 years, from climate-related catastrophes to geopolitical tensions. 

WEF provides an opportunity for corporate leaders to partner and plan strategies for reaching our sustainable future. Especially as momentum builds ahead of the Pact of the Future and Summit of the Future in September, there is a clear imperative for collaborative strategy building. 

Drawing inspiration from the UN Global Compact Forward Faster action guide for Sustainable Finance & Investment, here are five essential strategies to ensure your business reaches sustainable finance targets by 2030.

1. Embrace CFO Principles for SDG investments and finance. Familiarize yourself with UN Global Compact CFO Coalition’s “CFO Principles” that integrate SDG investments and finance. These principles offer a comprehensive framework for aligning financial strategies with sustainable development, ensuring that every financial decision contributes to the SDGs.

2. Establish 2030 targets using benchmarking analysis. Set clear targets for 2030 with intermediate milestones by calculating the relative percentage of SDG-aligned investments in your organization. This approach ensures a strong trajectory towards sustainability, allowing investors and stakeholders to monitor and contextualize progress. 

3. Make transparent disclosures of SDG-aligned investments. Demonstrate your commitment to sustainability by publicly disclosing SDG-aligned investments. Include these disclosures in your company's annual report and other key investor communications. Transparency fosters trust and accountability, both of which are key to educating investors on sustainable values.

4. Develop a sustainable financing framework. Establish a sustainable financing framework that precisely outlines how your corporate financing strategy is linked to the SDGs. This framework will guide investors, spelling out the non-negotiable link between financial decisions and sustainable impact.

5. Verify ambitious targets via third parties. Independent verification adds credibility to your sustainability commitments, instilling confidence in investors and stakeholders. 

The leaders who succeed are the ones who meet the needs of the future by moving forward.

As we navigate the landscape of global finance, Forward Faster serves as a guide for organizations that want to actualize their commitments with real contributions to the SDGs. 

Join the UN Global Compact at Davos as we explore how sustainable finance can drive us towards a future where our businesses and planet prosper together.