UNAA has joined with a group of Australian businesses, industry groups, universities and civil society organisations to call on the Federal Government to use the UN SDGs framework to guide policies designed to drive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Co-ordinated by the Global Compact Network Australia, a letter sent to PM Scott Morrison today says there is no need for reinvented frameworks because the SDGs “outline a path to 2030 that leaves no one behind, and creates a sustainable world through the development of new markets and opportunities for governments, companies, workers and communities”.

“There is already widespread support of the SDGs across Australia, including from the business community, for the future that these global goals define. Creating a fairer, more resilient and cleaner economy does not require the reinvention of frameworks or agreements. Instead, we are in a unique position to use the SDGs as the basis for a socially just and green
recovery, one that further strengthens Australia’s ability to meet the SDGs.”

The letter calls on the Government to use the SDGs to:

>>unite all sectors behind a plan to build a stronger and more resilient economy

>>prioritise the most vulnerable in our society and level-up regional and societal inequalities

>>build coherent policies for a healthy planet and to aid the transition to net zero.

The 48 signatories to the letter include Optus, Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia, University of Melbourne, Country Road Group, ACFID, World Vision, Global Impact Initiative, the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia (RIAA) and the Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative (ASFI).