{"id":43870,"date":"2018-01-25T19:11:41","date_gmt":"2018-01-25T19:11:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=43870"},"modified":"2018-04-22T11:46:41","modified_gmt":"2018-04-22T15:46:41","slug":"sdg-live-interview-richard-curtis-world-economic-forum-davos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2018\/01\/sdg-live-interview-richard-curtis-world-economic-forum-davos\/","title":{"rendered":"SDG Live interview with Richard Curtis at World Economic Forum in Davos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocate Richard Curtis spoke with Claudia Romo for an SDG Live conversation on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Richard Curtis outlined how the SDGs represent \u201ca genuine, optimistic, and incredibly well thought-through plan\u201d to create a better world for all by 2030.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of particular relevance to the setting of the World Economic Forum, Mr Curtis and Ms Romo discussed how the private sector is embracing the SDGs. Mr. Curtis applauded the business community for being \u201cseriously engaged\u201d in the SDGs, and noted that their involvement is mutually beneficial for both society and businesses themselves. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t make the world a better place without business being involved, because business make 70% of jobs, but if the world is full of climate disasters, extreme poverty and therefore no purchasing power, and conflict, business won\u2019t be able to thrive either. So, the relationship between a better world and better business is a perfect one and it is great to see here in Davos that this thought is catching on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr Curtis also praised the \u201ccompetitive instinct\u201d of business and many companies\u2019 drive to make sure that they are aligning with best practices, especially in relation to their competitors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ms Romo observed that consumers are increasingly \u201cbuying with their beliefs,\u201d and that companies are taking note and responding rapidly to the demands of their consumers. Mr Curtis agreed, and compared the power of consumers with the power of voters: unlike politicians who face re-election every few years, consumers can, the very next day, opt not to purchase products from a company that they do not see as sustainable or that does not share their world view. \u00a0This can be a powerful force in shaping their decisions on all aspects of their business, and in a way, can make businesses more responsive than politicians. <\/span><\/p>\n

The interview finished with a message from Richard Curtis about the universality and the interconnectedness of the SDGs:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt used to be that if I was interested in one thing, be it extreme poverty, domestic violence, or supporting Amnesty International or the UN, we were all fighting against each other for oxygen. What the Goals are is the wind behind a fleet, and they show you that all of those things fit together. Whatever you are doing, think about coating it with the Goals and using the Goals to help you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The full interview can be seen here<\/a>, or watched below.<\/p>\n

You can listen to Ms Romo\u2019s new SDG-focused podcast, Global Goals Cast, <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>