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Research

Rising Leaders on the Sustainable Development Goals

Findings from a Global Survey for Business Schools

Sustainable Development Goals

Overview

A new global study measuring awareness and engagement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals conducted by Yale University in collaboration with Global Network for Advanced Management and Schlange & Co. finds that:

  • Fewer than half of respondents were aware of the SDGs. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework is not well recognized around the world. Business students showed a higher level of awareness than the general public, but still, less than 60% had heard of the goals. 
  • Quality education and good health were consistently ranked as top priorities. Climate action was also a top priority, but showed more regional variability. We hypothesize that concern for climate action may be a “luxury” available only when more immediate concerns, such as economic well-being and clean water and air are allayed. 
  • There was a significant divide along gender and regional lines when assessing the importance of gender equality. Over 31% of female respondents ranked gender equality as an SDG of immediate concern, compared to approximately 15% of male respondents.
  • Action is needed across all segments of society, led by governments. Respondents see an active role in all segments of society (including business, academic institutions and NGOs), led by governments, in achieving the SDGs. The importance of partnership between these agents came through as a priority. 
  • Respondents are using the voting booth and short-term economic decisions to move on sustainability. This suggests that sustainability considerations are more prevalent in shorter-term transactions such as buying goods and voting, even where those transactions have longer-term implications. 

We hope these results provide insights into collaboration models and how business schools can incorporate SDGs into their discourse and curriculum, creating change and leading toward peace and prosperity for the planet.

The Report

Quote

"Decarbonizing the economy and laying the foundations for sustainable growth are musts if we are to guarantee fair and solid economic growth in the future, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals."

-José Ignacio Sánchez Galán, Chairman and CEO, Iberdrola

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Media

Media

Todd Cort featured in GreenBiz 350 podcast (November 22, 2019)

New Survey Leverages Global Network to Measure Leaders’ Engagement with UN Sustainable Development Goals, Yale School of Management (October 15, 2019)

Social Media Toolkit

Social Media Toolkit

SOCIAL MEDIA - Retweet/Follow/Share our posts

#GlobalNetwork​ #SDGs #GlobalGoals

Yale Center for Business and the Environment: Twitter (@YaleCBEY) •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn

Global Network for Advanced Management: Twitter (@AdvancedMgmt)  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn

Schlange & Co.Twitter (@SnC_Consulting)  •  LinkedIn


 

Rising Leaders on Climate Change Report Cover

social examples

[Twitter] New global survey measures leaders’ engagement with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Opportunities exist for business schools to further incorporate SDGs into their discourse and curriculum. https://cbey.yale.edu/gnam2019 #GlobalNetwork​ #SDGs #GlobalGoals @AdvancedMgmt @SnC_Consulting

[Facebook] A new global survey measures leaders’ engagement with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Opportunities exist for business schools to further incorporate SDGs into their discourse and curriculum. This report was published in partnership by Yale Center for Business and the Environment, The Global Network for Advanced Management and Schlange & Co. https://cbey.yale.edu/gnam2019 #GlobalNetwork​ #SDGs #GlobalGoals

GNAM Survey 2019 Finding 1

The SDG framework is not well recognized around the world. Biz students showed a higher level, but still, less than 60% had heard of the goals. Read the full report by @YaleCBEY @AdvancedMgmt @SnC_Consulting at https://cbey.yale.edu/GNAM2019 #GlobalNetwork​ #SDGs #GlobalGoals

GNAM Survey 2019 Finding 2

finding #2

Concern for #climateaction may be a “luxury” available only when more immediate concerns, such as economic well-being and clean water and air are allayed. Read the full report by @YaleCBEY @AdvancedMgmt @SnC_Consulting at https://cbey.yale.edu/GNAM2019 #GlobalNetwork​ #SDGs #GlobalGoals

GNAM Survey 2019 Finding 3

finding #3

Over 31% of female respondents ranked gender equality as an SDG of immediate concern, compared to approximately 15% of male respondents. Read the full report by @YaleCBEY @AdvancedMgmt @SnC_Consulting at https://cbey.yale.edu/GNAM2019 #GlobalNetwork​ #SDGs #GlobalGoals

GNAM Survey 2019 Finding 4

finding #4

There is a role in all segments of society led by governments, in achieving the SDGs. The importance of partnership between these agents is a priority. Read the full report by @YaleCBEY @AdvancedMgmt @SnC_Consulting at https://cbey.yale.edu/GNAM2019 #GlobalNetwork #SDGs #GlobalGoals

GNAM Survey 2019 Finding 5

finding #5

This suggests that sustainability considerations are more prevalent in shorter-term transactions such as buying goods and voting, even where those transactions have longer-term implications. Read the full report by @YaleCBEY @AdvancedMgmt @SnC_Consulting at https://cbey.yale.edu/GNAM2019 #GlobalNetwork​ #SDGs #GlobalGoals

People & Partners

Todd Cort

Senior Lecturer in Sustainability at Yale School of Management
Faculty Co-Director at Yale Center for Business and the Environment

Stuart DeCew

Executive Director at Yale Center for Business and the Environment
MBA 2011
Master of Environmental Management 2011

Heather Fitzgerald

Managing Director at Yale Center for Business and the Environment
Staff Lead, Business and the Environment Learning Community at Yale School of the Environment

Camino De Paz

Managing Director of Global Initiatives at Yale School of Management

Elizabeth Wilkinson

Associate Director for Global Initiatives at Yale School of Management