New guidelines for urgent action
Today at the ISO Annual Meeting 2024 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, the ISO/UNDP guidelines for contributing to the UN SDGs were officially released. This first publicly available document will guide organizations of all types and sizes in speeding up their response to the SDGs.
With only six years remaining, calls to intensify efforts and rapidly accelerate progress towards the SDGs are increasing. According to United Nations’ The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024, only 17% of the SDG targets are on track to being achieved globally by 2030.
A common framework for businesses
The new guidelines aim to take organizations from SDG alignment to SDG action. ISO Secretary-General Sergio Mujica highlighted the importance of these guidelines in providing a common approach for both public and private sector entities to align their strategies with the SDGs and document their progress.
“These guidelines allow all types of organizations – large or small, new or well-established – to place SDGs at the core of their operations,” said Mr. Mujica.
They provide practical advice for fully integrating sustainable development into all functions and investment decision-making processes.
ISO Secretary-General
Partnership for the Goals
This initiative marks a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between ISO and UNDP. In September 2023, both organizations signed a landmark Statement of Intent to enhance standards initiatives that will strengthen sustainability efforts globally. The new guidelines are the first major outcome of this collaboration.
ISO-UNDP agreement signing at the ISO General Assembly 2024
Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General, the UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, said that achieving the SDG targets by 2030 necessitates collective action from all sectors, including governments, civil society, the private sector, and communities. He highlighted the critical role of the new ISO/UNDP guidelines in helping organizations understand their contributions to the SDGs and how they can be most effective.
“These guidelines will unlock greater contributions to the SDG targets by aligning business purpose, strategy, and results with societal needs,” said Mr. Neto.
They provide essential tools for the implementation of national SDG plans, enabling contributions from both the private sector and governments. Furthermore, they reinforce accountability for organizational impacts on people and the planet while simultaneously enhancing business performance.
UN Assistant Secretary-General
UNDP Assistant Administrator
Director of UNDP's Bureau for Policy and Programme Support
A future-ready approach
The guidelines, developed by an international group of experts brought together by ISO member for Denmark, Danish Standards, also offer a broader perspective on sustainable development. “The guidelines showcase different business models and new ways of working, both internally and externally, that will accelerate innovation and allocate resources more effectively,” said Tina Helsted Vengsgaard, Director of Standardisation at Danish Standards.
By implementing the recommendations, organizations can anticipate risks and opportunities related to sustainable development earlier and manage them better.
Danish Standards, Director of Standardisation
Looking ahead, these guidelines are set to evolve into the first International Standard for the UN SDGs, building on the foundation laid by UNDP’s SDG Impact Standards and relevant ISO standards.
Get the guidelines today
As the global community races to meet the SDG targets by 2030, these new guidelines offer a practical tool for businesses and organizations to make meaningful contributions. Download the ISO/UNDP guidelines for the SDGs today to start aligning your strategies and operations with the SDGs and drive meaningful change.
