This September will mark eight years since the world embraced the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, reflect a shared objective and ambition across all countries to end poverty and hunger everywhere, to combat inequalities within and among countries, to build peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, to protect human rights and promote gender equality of women and girls, and to ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources by 2030.

The 17 Goals are supported by 169 targets and 232 indicators, enabling progress to be prioritised and tracked.

On 25 September, the Smiley Monroe Group is joining hundreds of businesses, government departments, and civil society organisations in a global movement to fly an SDG flag to spread awareness of the SDGs and mobilise stakeholders for the 2030 agenda.

“The Smiley Monroe Group is proud to be raising an SDG Flag for the very first time to show our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and the action that we’re already taking to combat major global challenges such as climate change and poor work. Our sustainability strategy, aligned with seven of the Global Goals, is slated to launch in early 2024. I think of it as our to-do list for people and the planet and part of our blueprint for success. We hope our small gesture will inspire other businesses to take their own steps, no matter how big or small, towards a better world. It simply makes good business sense.” commented Tim Monroe, Chief Marketing Officer - Smiley Monroe Group.

In the UK, there have been some significant milestones towards the SDGs. In 2022, the UN Global Compact Network UK released Measuring Up 2.0, a multi-stakeholder report assessing the UK's performance against the SDGs and their Targets to understand how and where businesses, government, and other organisations should focus efforts for the remainder of this decade of action.

The report found of the 132 Targets relevant to the domestic delivery of the SDGs, the UK is only performing well on 17% of them. It highlighted how persistent inequalities within and between communities in the UK mean that we continue to leave people and places behind. It is because of this. that the 2030 Agenda is more important than ever, and worldwide collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society organisations is essential.

With only 1 in 10 people in Britain familiar with the SDGs, raising the SDG flag this September is key to raising awareness and mobilising stakeholders for action. Join the global movement in championing the SDGs so that together the 2030 Agenda can be achieved!

#SDGFlagCampaign2023 #TogetherForTheSDGs #GlobalGoals #SDGs #Agenda2030