2030 Agenda and the 5 Ps of Sustainability
25 de September, 2024
On June 9, 2023, the National Sustainability Day was established in Portugal, which has since been celebrated every year on September 25.
Council of Ministers Resolution 56/2023 states that, since sustainability is a global goal that requires local action, it is urgent to bring this topic onto the national agenda.
As such, this date aims to promote knowledge and empower all social actors with a view to “consciously changing behaviors with the potential to transform a sustainable future”.
Portugal was the first country in the world to officially celebrate this date and September 25 is symbolic: it was on this day in 2015 that the 193 Member States of the United Nations approved the 2030 Agenda and adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Learn more about the 2030 Agenda and discover the five principles that underpin it – the so-called 5 Ps of Sustainability.
Read also: ESG: The sustainability criteria that companies cannot ignore
What is the 2030 Agenda?
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by the Member States of the United Nations in 2015 and officially entered into force the following year. This broad agenda sets out priorities for sustainable development at a global level, seeking to establish a global partnership to unite efforts around them.
To this end, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 concrete targets have been defined, which aim to address issues such as combating hunger and poverty, preserving the environment, gender equality and equal opportunities, access to education, among others.
With the ambition of “leaving no one behind“, these SDGs aim to respond to critical challenges for humanity and are based on 5 structural pillars:
- People;
- Planet;
- Prosperity;
- Peace;
- Partnerships.
These principles underpin the 2030 Agenda, which aspires to build a more sustainable, fairer, more equal and more prosperous world.
Find out in practice what these 5 Ps of Sustainability consist of.
1 – People
People are at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which generally seek to ensure social inclusion, equity and respect for human rights.
We need to join forces to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can live a dignified life and reach their potential.
For this to happen, it is vital to eradicate poverty and hunger, to promote access to quality health, drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene for all.
In addition, issues such as reducing inequalities, gender equality and access to inclusive, quality education cannot be neglected either.
2 – Planet
The second P refers to the planet, i.e. the urgent need to preserve the environment and combat climate change. Only the preservation and renewal of the planet’s resources and its ecosystems can guarantee the well-being of future generations.
It is absolutely essential to promote more responsible and sustainable consumption habits, reduce waste production and waste, safeguard biodiversity and tackle global warming. In fact, following the approval of the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement was signed, which set the goal of keeping the increase in the average global temperature below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels.
The SDGs that aim to respond to these challenges are related to the development of renewable energy sources, the construction of more sustainable cities, the promotion of more environmentally friendly consumption patterns, the adoption of practical measures to combat climate change, the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems, as well as oceans and marine resources.
3 – Prosperity
This third pillar relates to economic growth, which must be the driving force behind a more prosperous life for all without compromising social and environmental sustainability.
That prosperity involves aspects such as eradicating poverty in all its forms and promoting sustained and inclusive economic development that benefits everyone and every country.
Some of the foundations for this economic development include full and decent work for all people, with fair wages and high levels of productivity (through innovation and technological advances). At the same time, it is necessary to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, as well as upgrading existing infrastructures and modernizing industries.
4 – Peace
Sustainable development cannot be achieved unless societies are at peace, free from conflict, fear and violence.
Peaceful and inclusive societies, based on fair, accountable and effective institutions, are a prerequisite for sustainability and social cohesion.
In this sense, it is essential to implement concrete measures that contribute to curbing all forms of violence, eliminating abuse, exploitation, torture and trafficking, promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice.
5 – Partnerships
The last pillar of the 2030 Agenda concerns the need to build a global partnership for its implementation. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can only be achieved with proper collaboration and cooperation between various entities: governments, the international community, civil society associations and organizations, private sector companies, among other actors.
All these entities must share knowledge, mobilize resources and join forces in order to implement – and have implemented – concrete and effective measures for sustainable development.
This need is reflected in the 17th SDG, which provides precisely for an exchange of good practices and collective action to enable the other 16 goals to be met.
Want to know more about Edenred’s contribution to promoting sustainability and making the world a better place for everyone? Take a look at our Ideal Policy.