SDG 17: PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

We contribute to the achievement of the SDGs through our participation in international and national partnerships

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OUR CONTRIBUTION TO SDG 17: PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

 Iberdrola has been part of the UN Global Compact since 2002, an initiative whose mission is to generate an international movement of sustainable companies to create the world we want. In 2021, the group was recognised once again as a LEAD participating company for its continued commitment to this pact and the 10 UN principles for responsible business activity.

 We joined the #apoyamoslosODS (we support the SDGs) campaign, the most important international initiative for the fulfillment of the 17 objectives included in the 2030 Agenda. Promoted by the Spanish Global Compact Network, the project was launched in 2020 to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the SDGs in order to raise awareness and spread the word regarding the goals.

 The company is a constituent member of the Spanish Global Compact Network, created in 2004 as the Spanish Global Compact Association (ASEPAM).

 Iberdrola's 2021 Social Programme, endowed with 1.2 million euros, has chosen 34 projects aligned with the SDGs, thus promoting multi-player alliances.

 It is part of the G2020 Platform, whose purpose is to raise citizen awareness and knowledge as a step towards democratic regeneration for redefining political and social values.

 It is a strategic partner of the Spanish UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the company collaborates with its youth initiative SDSN Youth.

 It collaborates with the Spanish Climate Change Office and with the Spanish Green Growth Group.

 Iberdrola is driving The Day After will be External link, opens in new window., a platform whose purpose is to generate transformative alliances to address the challenges posed by the SDGs. To achieve this, it has launched a transformative alliance incubator, designed to streamline continuous initiatives and interaction, sharing lessons learned and co-creating through shared schemes and work methodology with a common purpose: to regenerate the economy, society, and the environment, boost motivation and make all this compatible with the 2030 Agenda.

 It actively participates in climate negotiations and policies, through its presence at the main climate summits. Among the most recent important dates, the Madrid Climate Summit (COP25), the New York Climate Action Summit and the activities of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action.

 It implements the corporate volunteering initiative The SDGs and Me.

 It is a member of the Shire Alliance, the first public-private alliance to bring electricity to refugee camps.

 Iberdrola is the main promoter of the CSD (National Sports Council) Women's Universe programme. Through this alliance, the company supports 16 sports federations as a way to create female role models in society, promote the empowerment of women and promote healthy habits from an early age.

 At the end of the 2020 Fiscal Year, purchases from suppliers with an environmental management system represented around 64 % of the amount issued in orders (general supplies). The company has also set itself a target of at least 70 % of suppliers having sustainability standards and policies by 2022, with this rising to 75 % by 2025.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 17: PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS?

SDG 17 aims to strengthen the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on the idea that the SDGs can only be achieved through strong global partnerships and cooperation. The unions and partnerships between the different actors such as governments, the private sector and civil society enable the mobilisation and exchange of knowledge, technical capacity, technology and resources.

WHY IS SDG 17: PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS SO IMPORTANT?

To achieve compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals, it is essential that partnerships are created between all actors: governments, civil society, scientists, the academic world and the private sector. The 2030 Agenda urges all countries, both developed and developing, to adopt measures that ensure that no one is left behind.

As it is everyone's duty, each country will have to prepare regular reviews to discuss the progress made, with the support of all stakeholders (companies, civil society, etc.). It is also everyone's duty to encourage governments to partner with companies in implementing the SDGs and to get involved in initiatives that work towards their achievement.

According to the UN, in its 2020 Sustainable Development Goals Report, the support from the different actors for achieving the SDGs has been constant but fragile, with significant challenges. Financial resources remain scarce and trade tensions between countries have been increasing. In addition, the global COVID-19 pandemic brings with it a decrease in foreign direct investment and a decline in remittances. One of the few positive points is observed at the technological level: today, more and more people have direct access to the internet to work, shop and connect with others. However, the digital divide is still huge.

The main donors say that, although the coronavirus will disrupt the economy, they will strive to protect official development cooperation budgets. This aid amounted to 147.4 billion dollars in 2019, almost the same amount as in 2018, although with a higher proportion for the most disadvantaged countries: net bilateral aid to Africa and the least developed countries increased by 1.3 % (37 billion dollars) and 2.6 % (33 billion dollars), respectively, as of 2018. Total aid for infectious diseases amounted to 6 billion in 2018.

Much of this aid to the least developed countries is in the form of remittances. However, after peaking in 2019 (554 billion dollars), these remittances are expected to drop by 20 % due to the COVID-19 pandemic. World trade is also forecast to fall by between 13 % and 32 % in 2020, while the least developed countries try to increase their share of exports.

Reversing this reality has become a primary objective in the international arena. For this reason, it is vital to protect and continue partnerships so that no one is left behind. Only the coming together of all the actors will make it possible to achieve the objectives set, which is why SDG 17 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, which was approved in September 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda, is so important.

AIMS OF SDG 17: PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

Within SDG 17, the specific aims set for the year 2030 are:

• On a financial level: mobilise resources by providing international support to developing countries so that they can better collect their tax revenues. Also, help them achieve long-term debt sustainability. In addition, mobilise resources for the countries that need them most and promote investments in them.
• At a technological level: improve cooperation between countries in science, technology and innovation and access to them. Seek to promote the development of environmentally sound technologies and their transfer and diffusion to developing countries.
• At the capacity building level: increase international support for effective and targeted capacity-building activities in developing countries.
• On systemic issues: search for policy and institutional coherence (enhancing global macroeconomic stability and improving policy coherence for sustainable development); enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development and promote effective partnerships in the public, public-private and civil society spheres; and build on existing initiatives to develop indicators to measure sustainable development progress.