Initiatives by the Japanese Government and Businesses
Japanese Government Initiatives
At the UN Summit where the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" was adopted, Prime Minister Abe delivered a speech in which he welcomed the adoption of the Agenda, which places elements that Japan has been emphasizing at its core, and stressed that it is essential for all stakeholders to play their roles in implementing the Agenda through global partnerships. He also stated that it is essential for all stakeholders to play their roles in the global partnership to implement the Agenda, and that Japan, as a member of the partnership, will make its utmost efforts to implement the Agenda.
In May 2016, the Government of Japan established the Prime Minister's Office to promote comprehensive and effective SDG-related measures through close collaboration among relevant administrative agencies. In order to promote measures related to the SDGs in a comprehensive and effective manner, the Government of Japan established the Headquarters for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Promotion, which is headed by the Prime Minister. In order to take the lead in both domestic implementation and international cooperation, cross-agency efforts and promotion based on implementation guidelines will be pursued.
Corporate (Private Sector) Initiatives
In addition to governments, civil society, business (private sector), and all other stakeholders are expected to contribute to the realization of this agenda. Private sector activity, investment, and innovation are key to generating productive and inclusive economic growth and job creation, and they are expected to demonstrate creativity and innovation in solving challenges in sustainable development. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stated: "Businesses are the key to achieving the SDGs.
Businesses are key partners in achieving the SDGs. Businesses can contribute to this through their core businesses. We call on all companies to assess the impact of their operations, set ambitious targets, and communicate the results in a transparent manner."
The SDG Compass has been developed by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the UN Global Compact, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) as a set of corporate action guidelines for the SDGs. The SDG Compass demonstrates the impact of the SDGs on each company's business and provides the tools and knowledge to put sustainability at the center of corporate strategy.