New York, United States / Cartagena de Indias, Colombia – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have unveiled the world's first international guidelines designed to help businesses and organizations expedite their contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With just six years left to meet the SDGs, the urgency to intensify efforts and significantly speed up progress is greater than ever. The new ISO/UNDP guidelines for the SDGs, launched today at the ISO Annual Meeting 2024, in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, offer a crucial, freely available resource for organizations of all types and sizes to place the SDGs at the core of their operations and accelerate their impact.

Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General, the UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, said that achieving the SDG targets by 2030 necessitates collective action from all sectors, including governments, civil society, the private sector, and communities. He highlighted the critical role of the new ISO/UNDP guidelines in helping organizations understand their contributions to the SDGs and how they can be most effective.

“These guidelines will unlock greater contributions to the SDG targets by aligning business purpose, strategy, and results with societal needs,” said Mr. Neto. “They provide essential tools for the implementation of national SDG plans, enabling contributions from both the private sector and governments. Furthermore, they reinforce accountability for organizational impacts on people and the planet while simultaneously enhancing business performance.”

Sergio Mujica, ISO Secretary-General, underscored the significance of this initiative, stating, “These guidelines allow all types of organizations – in both the public and private sectors worldwide – large or small, new or well-established – to place SDGs at the core of their operations. For the first time, we have a common approach for businesses and organizations to align their strategies with the SDGs and document progress towards achieving them. The guidelines provide practical advice for fully integrating sustainable development into all functions and investment decision-making processes.”

As part of a strategic partnership formalized in September 2023, ISO and UNDP have committed to collaborating on standards initiatives that will strengthen sustainability efforts globally. The ISO/UNDP guidelines for the SDGs represent a significant milestone in this collaboration, marking the first major outcome aimed at driving SDG progress.

“The guidelines showcase different business models and new ways of working, both internally and externally, that will accelerate innovation and allocate resources more effectively,” added Tina Helsted Vengsgaard, Director of Standardisation at Danish Standards, the Secretariat of the Technical Committee for the guidelines. “By implementing the recommendations, organizations can anticipate risks and opportunities related to sustainable development earlier and manage them better.”

Looking ahead, these guidelines are set to evolve into the first International Standard for the UN SDGs, building on the foundation laid by UNDP’s SDG Impact Standards and relevant ISO standards.

The guidelines are freely available at iso.org/SDGguidelines.

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About UNDP: UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP. 

About Sustainable Finance Hub: The UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub brings together UNDP’s financial expertise to harness public and private capital for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)- supporting governments, investors and businesses in reaching climate, social impact and sustainability targets. Its work drives systemic change towards a sustainable financial architecture that benefits people and the planet. Find out more about its integrated services that ensure all finance is sustainable, at sdgfinance.undp.org or follow @UNDP_SDGFinance.

About ISO: ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 170 national standards bodies. Through its global network, it facilitates the development of voluntary and market-relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges. ISO has published more than 25 000 International Standards and related documents covering almost every industry, from technology to food safety, to agriculture and healthcare.

About Danish Standards: Danish Standards is Denmark's national standardisation organisation, representing Denmark in the European and international standardisation organisations: CEN, CENELEC, ISO, IEC, and ETSI. As a member of Danish Standards' standardisation committee, Danish stakeholders can collaborate with others to help set standards for the future, both nationally and internationally. Danish Standards has been hosting the Secretariat of the Technical Committee for the guidelines. Read more at ds.dk.

Press contact

Christopher Hughes

Strategic Communications Specialist, Sustainable Finance Hub

christopher.hughes@undp.org