5 Ways the UN is Pushing Us Forward Faster Towards Sustainability
Written By AD&V®
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | AD&V® is dedicated to advanced and energy-efficient sustainable architecture & interior design that enhances people’s experience of the world and improves their lives.
EVERY OCTOBER 24TH, THE WORLD CELEBRATES UNITED NATIONS DAY TO RECOGNIZE THE GLOBAL EFFORTS TOWARD PEACE, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
This year, the focus is on the Forward Faster initiative, a powerful UN-led movement designed to accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Forward Faster encourages organizations and individuals to take bold, immediate action to address critical challenges such as climate change, gender inequality, and poverty.
AD&V’S FORWARD FASTER COMMITMENT
At AD&V, we’re proud to be part of this movement, having recently joined the Forward Faster initiative at this year’s UN Leaders Summit as we commit to Gender Equality and Living Wage targets.
AD&V’s CEO & Business Development & Marketing Director at the UNGC Leaders Summit 2024.
As a firm dedicated to architecture and design that prioritizes environmental and social responsibility, joining the Forward Faster initiative aligns with who we are. Through this commitment, AD&V has taken on two ambitious targets:
Gender Equality: By 2030, AD&V is dedicated to ensuring equal pay for equal work and achieving equal representation, participation, and leadership at all levels of management. We believe that diversity is essential for creativity and innovation, and we are actively creating pathways to empower women in architecture and design.
Living Wage: AD&V is also committed to ensuring that 100% of our employees earn a living wage by 2030. Fair compensation not only strengthens our company culture but also creates a positive impact on the communities we serve.
These commitments underscore our responsibility as stewards of sustainable, equitable change. But what is it about the UN's initiative that is pushing us all forward faster? Here are several ways the UN is driving sustainability efforts at a global scale:
1. SETTING BOLD, CLEAR TARGETS
The Forward Faster initiative empowers organizations by providing specific, ambitious sustainability targets to achieve by 2030. These include:
Climate Action: Committing to carbon neutrality or net-zero emissions across entire organizations.
Gender Equality: Achieving equal representation, participation, and leadership at all levels of management, as well as equal pay for work of equal value.
Living Wages: Ensuring that 100% of employees earn a living wage by 2030, creating a fairer, more equitable workforce.
By establishing clear, measurable goals, the United Nations encourages businesses and governments to take decisive, transparent steps toward sustainability, holding all stakeholders accountable.
2. PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY
The Forward Faster initiative emphasizes the importance of transparent reporting and accountability. Publicly sharing progress on sustainability goals builds trust and ensures that the actions taken are having real-world impact.
This push for transparency encourages organizations to remain committed to their goals and inspires others to join the movement. Through open reporting, companies and governments alike can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability while holding themselves to high standards of accountability.
AD&V’s yearly Impact Report showcases our firm’s progress and achievements in different areas. You can view our 2023 Impact Report below and all previous reports here.
3. ENCOURAGING INNOVATION FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
Innovation is key to achieving ambitious sustainability targets. The Forward Faster initiative promotes developing and adopting new technologies and practices that drive sustainability.
Whether it's renewable energy, sustainable urban planning, or cutting-edge materials, the initiative encourages stakeholders to explore creative approaches to solving environmental challenges.
The UN enables organizations to push the boundaries of sustainability, making way for environmentally friendly and economically viable advancements.
4. FOSTERING CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION
The UN understands that addressing global sustainability challenges requires collaboration across industries. Forward Faster encourages partnerships between businesses, governments, NGOs, and other entities.
This collaborative approach helps leverage the strengths of different sectors to devise innovative solutions for the most urgent environmental issues, fostering an environment where creativity and collective effort can yield significant, impactful change.
AD&V collaborated with the GVA to provide a session on how businesses can be used as a platform for social good.
5. INTEGRATING ECONOMIC & SOCIAL EQUITY
Sustainability goes beyond environmental concerns—it includes social and economic dimensions. The Forward Faster initiative champions policies that promote inclusivity, social justice, and economic equity alongside environmental goals.
From creating fair labor practices to fostering opportunities for marginalized communities, the initiative takes a holistic approach to sustainability. By addressing economic and social inequities, the UN ensures that sustainability is not only about preserving the planet but also about improving the quality of life of all people.
TAKING ACTION TO MOVE FORWARD FASTER
We invite others to join us in this global movement as we celebrate United Nations Day. The UN’s Forward Faster initiative serves as a roadmap for accelerating progress, creating a lasting impact, and working towards a world where people and our planet can thrive together.
Interested in joining the Forward Faster movement? To get involved you must first become a United Nations Global Compact member by clicking here, and then you can make your Forward commitment by clicking here to join the movement to a more sustainable future. Together, we can push the boundaries and drive meaningful change!
FURTHER READING: 4 BENEFITS OF EMBRACING THE SDGS IN PUERTO RICAN MSMES