Getting Started

Your shortcut to practical tools, interesting reads and inventive ideas

These tools and information provide an introduction to the SDGs and how they might be applied by academia, civil society, business and governments.

Many more resources can be found by searching by goal or by industry sector, and can help identify where organisations intersect with the SDGs, why the SDGs matter, and the case for acting.

We welcome recommendations of additional resources that fit with our goal to be a repository of credible, useful and relevant resources and a platform for showcasing Australian actions related to the SDGs.

GCNA makes it clear that the website is providing links to resources developed by other organisations and that there is no affiliation between GCNA and the organisations which published these documents.

TOOLS

SDG Industry Matrix

- KPMG/UN Global Compact Resource -
A platform for showcasing specific and practical examples of actions within six different industries that aid progress on the SDGs. The industries profiled include: financial services; food, beverage and consumer goods; healthcare and life sciences; industrial manufacturing; transportation; and energy, natural resources and chemicals.

SDG Reporting Challenge 2018

- PwC Benchmarking Tool -
An analysis of corporate and sustainability reports of 729 companies across 21 territories and 6 industries by PwC. The data can be used by business to compare with others in the same sector or geography and used to enhance future communication about SDG-related performance.

SDG Compass

- Guide -
A practical tool for companies seeking to align their operations with the SDGs, and be able to measure and manage their contribution. SDG Compass was developed by GRI, the UN Global Compact and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
A UN site detailing information about the goals, their development and implementation.

ARTICLES & REPORTS

A March 2019 report offering a “straightforward approach, principles, and tips to use in developing a responsible investment policy.”

Almost everything you know about impact investing is wrong

- Stanford Social Innovation Review – Article -

‘Can government policies that drive strong economic outcomes for the private sector alleviate poverty?’

- Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA) and RMIT University Report -

Transforming Australia: SDG Progress Report

- National Sustainable Development Council – Report -
Data and evidence on Australia’s progress towards achieving the SDGs, compiled by the National Sustainable Development Council.  

PODCASTS, WEBCASTS AND MORE

Financing the SDGs with Martin Chrisney – CGD Podcast

- Centre for Global Development - Podcast -
Martin Chrisney, Director of the International Development Assistance Services Institute at KPMG, discusses blended finance and development in this November 2018 podcast with the Center for Global Development. (Approx. 15 minutes)
EY argues that organisations can harness the SDGs to “drive growth, address risk, attract capital and focus on purpose.”

Rethinking Finance for Sustainable Development; Challenges and Progress

- UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific - Blog -
Addresses the question of how the world can finance such an ambitious agenda as the one posed by the SDGs.
A 36-page Oxfam review of SDG engagement by 76 of the world’s largest companies. It finds that while uptake of the SDGs by companies is high, there is little evidence that the SDGs have changed sustainability strategies with regards to priorities, ambition or transparency. Oxfam suggests how business can more effectively engage. Published September 2018.

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