In 2015, all 193 member countries in the United Nations (UN) unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Fundamental to this agenda are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which have been set to guide society towards progress on a number of socio-economic development issues including poverty, equality, health, climate change, urbanization and more. Also in 2015, many UN member countries adopted the Paris Climate Agreement, which aimed to limit the increase in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius to reduce the negative impacts of climate change.
Both the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement are historic feats in international diplomacy and multilateralism. They are important for the prosperity of all current and future life on the planet along with ensuring a life of dignity for all while tackling climate change.
While the government may seem chiefly responsible for achieving these goals, businesses certainly have an important role to play in achieving them. That’s why Dillon has recently committed to the United Nations Global Compact – the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, which has commitment in over 160 countries. The United Nations Global Compact is a call to action for companies to adopt universally-accepted sustainable business practices and advance these societal goals including the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Since its inception in 2009, Dillon’s Corporate Sustainability Strategy has evolved from a program meant to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into a holistic program that encompasses two of the three pillars of sustainability – environmental and social. Many programs and targets have been implemented based on this strategy including our GHG reduction target (which was set based on the Paris Climate Agreement ), Women in Dillon, THRIVE, the Wellness Fund and the Environmental and Community Investment Fund (ECIF). Recently, Dillon celebrated our tenth year of remaining carbon neutral and over a $1,000,000 in donations to our communities and environmental organizations. In alignment with the United Nations Global Compact and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, we will continue to evolve our Corporate Sustainability Strategy’s programs and targets and will continue to follow our vision of becoming leaders in corporate sustainability in the industry.