Thai corporates announce 5 SDG strategies

Formed under the auspices of the UN in 2018, the GCNT pushes for responsible corporate practices and integration of SDGs into Thai business strategies.

"This action is to bring significant changes and uplift corporate governance standards in business operations,” said Suphachai Chearavanont, CEO of Charoen Pokphand and GCNT chairperson. “GCNT focuses on the four core principles – human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption, including education and public health … particularly in the Covid-19 crises,” he added. “Someday, this crisis will end, but sustainability will become an essential issue for everyone. Hence, to reach the sustainable development goals is necessary and we must collaborate onwards."

The GCNT’s five SDGs strategies are:

Strategy 1: Creating awareness through establishing the "Thailand Sustainability Index" Report for the private sector to create indicators and necessary information in sustainable development.

Strategy 2: Using market mechanisms to drive sustainability through public-private partnerships. Creating and share sustainability insights of each organisation through activities based on the 17 SDGs, such as weekend workshops where members will share and discuss operations, new knowledge and world trends in sustainable development.

Strategy 3: Building new leaders across all levels of companies, from the C-level to new managers, and implementing an annual sustainability report in accordance with the 10 Principles of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), which focuses on Human Rights, Labour, Environment, and Anti-Corruption.

Strategy 4: Recognising working people in sustainability to empower members to achieve SDGs through sharing solutions for societal issues through internal and external organisation activities to accomplish measurable outcomes. Participants with outstanding performance will be recognised at the "SDGs Pioneer 2020" event scheduled to take place in early 2021.

Strategy 5: Applying technology and innovation to solve societal issues, for example by reducing carbon dioxide emissions to achieve “carbon neutral”, using disruptive technology to impact positively on people's lives, practicing zero-waste principles, reducing inequality via digital education, and building a network of startup communities.

Speaking after a meeting with the National Committee on Sustainable Development (NCSD) along with the Global Compact Network Thailand, and the National Economic and Social Development Council.

Said Somchai Wangwattanapanich, Federation of Thai Industries vice president: "The Federation of Thai Industries attended the meeting with the National Committee on Sustainable Development along with the Global Compact Network Thailand, and the National Economic and Social Development Council.

“The National Committee on Sustainable Development [NCSD] is driving Thailand SDG targets through their strategies, which align with the GCNT’s. Thus GCNT should coordinate closely with them to drive sustainability together in the same direction, particularly link to civil society," said Federation of Thai Industries vice president Somchai Wangwattanapanich, after meeting with the GCNT, NCSD and National Economic and Social Development Council.