UN SDGs: what are they and what are we doing to support them?
Published by Claire Coulson on September 23, 2022
This month will mark seven years since the world embraced the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are a part of the foundation of our ESG strategy at Colt and many of our initiatives are aligned to them.
The SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, reflect a shared objective and ambition across all countries to end poverty and hunger, combat inequalities, build peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, protect human rights and promote gender equality, and to ensure 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.
This is how we’re working to the goals at Colt:
- Our renewables and energy efficiency initiatives support SDGs 7 and 12. UN SDG 2 states that by 2030, they aim to substantially increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. Between 2020 and 2021, we reduced our total Scope 2 electricity consumption by 12% and increased our renewable energy consumption by 22%.
- The work we do with our employee resource groups, and the CSR activity that our people do links to SDG 10. This SDG is about reducing inequalities. Examples of this would be work we’re doing to drive questions around race and cultural awareness, such as delivering Race Inclusion training and launching race ally training workshops. As well as the work we’re doing to promote accessibility and the inclusion of persons with disabilities, such as launching Colt Group’s first Disability Accessibility Network (DAN).
- SDG 5 is about gender equality. At Colt, we have a Gender Action Plan, and this includes; Retuners@Colt: to attract professionals who have taken a career break, Best Brave Self – a development series by women for women designed to build confidence and support each other and group mentoring sessions are delivered via our women’s network, Network 25.
- Our circular economy and waste reduction initiatives support SDGs: 8, 9, 11 and 12. UN SDG 12.5 states that by 2030, they aim to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. At Colt, we have zero waste to landfill initiatives, with three Colt offices currently on the road to zero waste to landfill certification.
- Our focus on Global Green Teams, journey to Net Zero and sustainable governance strategy support SDG 13 on climate action. 2021 marked the first year of Colt Group’s environmental change network. The Green Teams were created to give passionate employees a local forum to make environmentally impactful changes on-site, in communities, and engage colleagues with environmental issues through events/volunteering. The same year, Colt Group announced our near-term emissions reduction targets approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
- SDG Goal 3 is about wellbeing. At Colt, we have Mental Health First Aiders and a Global Mental Health & Wellbeing policy that our MHFA programme supports. We have four employee networks that help to drive inclusion and belonging, which also drives wellbeing in the workplace.
You can read more details about what we’re doing to support SDGs in our 2021 Sustainability Report.
Claire Coulson is Environmental Sustainability Manager at Colt.
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