Barcelona, 8 October 2015 – World leaders from 193 countries met last week in the UN Sustainable Development Summit to formally adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations Organization (UN). The new set of goals will mark the agenda on the global development in the next 15 years, in which, the private sector plays a fundamental role.

Unlike previous Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the ambitious new sustainable development agenda is oriented more to the economic development and environmental sustainability. This need for alternative solutions that will address these shortcomings gives businesses and the private sector a key role in the redrafted roadmap. The private sector contributes 60 % to world GDP and 90 % to job creation, and have many advantages for these goals’ achievement due to its innovative spirit and management of the natural resources. In the Mediterranean case, an ecoregion with a unique natural and cultural heritage, its future depends on the sustainable development of the whole area. In addition, if sustainability is perceived by shareholder entrepreneurs as an economic opportunity instead of a threat, the UN Summit could be led to an unparalleled burst of innovation and creativity. The message is clear; in order to fully achieve the SDGs, the involvement of the businesses and private sector becomes essential.

For this reason, the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) calls on the private sector to demonstrate its commitment to climate change and to actively engage in UN initiatives.

ASCAME will accelerate initiatives to integrate the efficient use of the natural resources within a coordination framework between the two shores of the Mediterranean.  Furthermore, it is required to encourage the enterprises to adhere to the international standards of transparency and environmental responsibility and help them to minimize business risk. The points of convergence between enterprises’ objectives and the SDGs have yet to be materialized, but it’s undoubtedly that sustainability is the economic opportunity for the Mediterranean private sector future. The development of sustainable business practices is crucial for the future prosperity and well-being of the region.