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Sustainable development

Playing our part in achieving global sustainability goals

In 2015 all 193 United Nations (UN) member states signed up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This sets out a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. It is an ambitious project which pledges that ‘no one will be left behind’ in the drive for sustainable global economic growth.

Underpinning the agenda is a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals are high-level aims for governments and international bodies and include:

  • ending hunger and poverty
  • providing decent work
  • responsible consumption of resources
  • ensuring everyone has access to clean water and sanitation.

The role of business

Business has a part to play in achieving these goals. We have mapped the Sustainable Development Goal targets to occupational safety and health management.

We believe good occupational safety and health management:

  • has a role to play in meeting 51 of the 169 targets supporting the Sustainable Development Goals
  • can directly contribute to 30 of these targets.

Play your part

The connections between occupational safety and health management and the Sustainable Development Goals can help you identify where your business activities support the UN’s aims.

By matching the way your organisation measures and reports its sustainability performance with these targets, you can play your part in the international drive to create a better world for everyone.

The potential for good occupational safety and health management to promote greater equality and prosperity worldwide ties in with its contribution to social sustainability. This is the focus of IOSH’s Catch the Wave campaign.

Check out our downloadable report to see how we've mapped elements of OSH management with targets underpinning the Sustainable Development Goals.