Earth Day 2022 April 22
The concept of sustainable development was described by the 1987 Bruntland Commission Report as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” –
On April 22, 1970, 20 million American citizens banded together in defense of the planet, establishing “World Earth Day.” Created to emphasize the importance of natural resource conservation, it is still the world’s largest environmental event, promoted by the Green Generation, who want to see a future free of energy derived from fossil fuels in favor of renewable sources, as well as greater individual responsibility for sustainable development.
This could be an opportunity for entrepreneurs and businesses to find innovative solutions that combine economic growth, social development, and environmental protection. Choosing sustainability for a business means generating value in the long run. Turning our attention to the international context, the importance of these issues is reflected in the European Directive 2014/95/EU, which was implemented in Italy with Legislative Decree 254/2016, that required large public interest companies to prepare a non-financial statement on social, human, and environmental rights, as well as the fight against corruption. This strategy was carried forward in December 2019 with the European Green Deal, which recalled the SDGs and encapsulated European countries’ commitment to adopt strategies to transform EU policies on climate, energy, transportation, and taxation. In fact, the European Union’s goal is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 through the implementation of the “Fit for 55” strategy in 2021, with the ultimate goal of zero net emissions by 2050..
More than 65 percent of the world’s large corporations already communicate their sustainability strategies and best practices through non-financial statements. On the contrary, for smaller companies, this document is voluntary because only the most virtuous and ESG conscious company choose to disclose the initiatives and best practices they implement each year to promote sustainable development in an official document.
As in Italy , an increasing number of SMEs are voluntarily compiling their own sustainability report and investing in long-term projects that benefit the communities in which they operate.
It is an interesting topic for businesses, and it is increasingly being used as a strategic and competitive lever that generates multiple opportunities for innovation to the benefit of business performance, stakeholders, and the entire community, in addition to an economic return.