SUSTAINABILITY 4 SUSTAINABILITY Future challenges With 17 defined goals, the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNECE lists its milestones for a sustainable further development. These are to contribute to mastering the global ecological, economic and social challenges (see Figure 1). To support reaching these goals, a campaign of measures has been launched. It is a special initiative of the UN Secretary General that is managed by the United Nations development programme. It is supported by the United Nations and the Member States in the publication and involvement of the public in the implementation of the SDGs. The SDGs apply to all states, companies and civil societies and took force on 1 January 2016 with a term of 15 years. Figure 1 – 17 SDGs of the UNECE Paris Agreement In contrast to the Kyoto Protocol of the year 1997, the Paris Agreement obligates all states without exception for the first time since 2015 to develop a national climate protection contribution (“nationally determined contribution”, NDC). Each state must resolve measures for implementation and also fulfil these. The primary goal is the so-called 2-degree target: By 2015, the global emissions are to be reduced by 40% to 70%, so that the critical temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius is not exceeded. Furthermore, new comprehensive rules on the protection of forests have been adopted. New forms for the international cooperation on carbon markets are being established and the states are called upon to respond better to climate change and arrange global financial flows in such a way that climate protection is in the foreground. Saint-Gobain contributes actively in the implementation of the Agreement and is available actively with its competence also at advanced conferences and to interested groups. Moreover, the Paris Agreement can already accelerate reaching the goals by targeted specific measures such as the consistent use of wood in the construction sector.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTQ5ODU5