At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), experts underscored the critical importance of media cooperation, especially among BRICS+ countries, in advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session, led by TV BRICS Chairman Ivan Polyakov, delved into the significance of collaborative efforts to raise awareness and drive progress towards the SDGs.
Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, stressed the indispensable role of businesses in realizing the SDGs. She highlighted how companies from 160 nations have aligned with principles of accountability, human rights, and environmental stewardship through the UN Global Compact—a monumental initiative engaging corporations in sustainable development endeavors.
“The SDGs are not just about meeting targets by 2030; they represent a lasting blueprint for economic and social advancement,”
Valovaya emphasized.
“Our collective focus should not only center on achieving these goals but also on reshaping our mindsets and policies to ensure sustained progress beyond 2030.”
Natalia Dorpeko, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Russia, emphasized the urgency of disseminating information regarding countries’ and businesses’ contributions towards SDG attainment. By enhancing public awareness about various stakeholders’ efforts in advancing sustainable development, new partnerships can be forged, platforms created, and successful practices integrated.
Insufficient promotion of the 2030 Agenda was flagged as a hindrance to progress by Igor Korotetsky from Kept—the audit and consulting company. He noted that governments, businesses, and even international organizations like the UN need to ramp up advocacy efforts.
“The media stands out as a crucial communication tool in this regard,”
Korotetsky added.
Hector Isidro Arenas Neira, Colombia’s Ambassador to Russia, shed light on his country’s pioneering role in formulating sustainable development objectives. Stressing ongoing dialogues between government entities, businesses, and society facilitated by initiatives like Global Compact is vital for overcoming global challenges such as climate change.
Russian business leaders reaffirmed their commitment to SDGs during the session. Elena Feoktistova from RSPP highlighted Russian companies’ adherence to responsible practices while Irina Bakhtina from RUSAL pointed out their longstanding tradition of publishing sustainability reports over two decades.
Zakhar Azarov from “Severstal” underlined deepening partnerships with BRICS nations to share successful social and environmental strategies. Vyacheslav Fetisov from State Duma’s Committee on Ecology echoed sentiments about heightened corporate responsibility amid increasing environmental concerns.
In line with session discussions promoting sustainable development values through media collaboration,
TV BRICS partnered with UN Global Compact Network Russia at SPIEF—an alliance aimed at fostering social responsibility through joint information dissemination projects.
By leveraging media influence effectively alongside concerted global efforts across sectors,
advancements towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals can gain momentum—propelling communities worldwide toward a more sustainable future.
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