Putting people's equality and dignity at the center

Raúl José López Osorio is currently the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at the Yucatecan Business Foundation and Technical Secretary of the Peninsular Alliance 2030. 

Today, sustainability is a very popular topic in discussions and agreements between countries and governments; however, few of us have a clear understanding of what it means and why it is important in our lives.

“Sustainability is the condition or state that would allow for the indefinite continuation of human existence on Earth through a healthy, safe, and productive life lived in harmony with nature and spiritual values, based on a transformative vision of economic, social, and environmental sustainability.”

While “sustainable development is a process that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” it represents a comprehensive, long-term vision.

It is in this spirit that the UN’s proposal to achieve sustainability on Earth was born: through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 Goals, 169 targets, and 232 indicators, and presents an ambitious vision of sustainable development that integrates its economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

Thus, the 2030 Agenda is a transformative agenda that places people’s equality and dignity at its core and calls for a change in our approach to development, while respecting the environment.

Today, it is a universal commitment undertaken by both developed and developing countries, within the framework of a strengthened global partnership that takes into account the means of implementation needed to bring about change and prevent disasters caused by extreme natural events, as well as to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The 2030 Agenda is a universal call to action.

But how do we understand and assess the scope of the 2030 Agenda? Here are some points to consider:

1. 1. 1. Starting point: Sustainable human development must be the same for everyone, regardless of where they live. Inequality among people and countries is one of the central challenges to achieving this development.

      2. It addresses sustainable development from three interrelated dimensions: social, economic, and environmental. It sets specific objectives and targets for each of them.

      3. The 17 SDGs can be divided into three groups. They focus on combating poverty in all its forms, relate to environmental commitments, and are linked to good governance and the promotion of peaceful societies.

      4. The 169 targets fall into two categories: those numbered represent milestones to be achieved. For example, Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe drinking water at an affordable price for all; and the targets related to means of implementation, which are numbered with letters, for example, Target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.

      5. It emphasizes the principles of equality and non-discrimination: it ensures access for all people and prioritizes the need to address growing inequalities within and among countries.

      6. It is grounded in human rights principles, and its objectives, targets, and indicators are specifically aligned with many human rights.

      7. It revolves around the so-called 5Ps, which in English are: Planet, People, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership, and in Spanish: planeta, personas, prosperidad, paz, and alianzas.

      8. Timeframe: Implementation began in 2016, and the goals are to be achieved by 2030.

Our proposal is the Peninsular Alliance 2030

The Peninsular Alliance 2030 is an agreement for the sustainability of the Yucatán Peninsula, resulting from the region’s shared vision and shared responsibility, which stems from the desire of businesses, academia, and civil society to transition toward operations that are responsible toward the environment and communities, within the scope of their respective spheres of action and in response to the UN’s call to join the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

This Declaration by the private and financial sectors on the sustainability of the Yucatán Peninsula is of great significance to us because it offers a more comprehensive and concrete perspective on what can be achieved and how to achieve it. Its implementation and the achievements made thus far already mark a milestone in the field of regional development that can be replicated both within and outside our country.

The Peninsular Alliance 2030 is, in and of itself, a multi-stakeholder alliance that enables businesses and civil society organizations in the states of Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatán to showcase to the world the significant actions they are taking in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals, thereby becoming leading examples and advocates for the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and for making responsible contributions to climate change mitigation, the preservation of our ecological environment, and the sustainability of our communities.

As part of the Peninsular Alliance 2030, the companies and civil society organizations that have signed on to the Alliance have committed to reporting annually on actions related to one or more Sustainable Development Goals, through the Yucatecan Business Foundation, which serves as the Alliance’s coordinating and driving organization. In this way, companies and organizations publicly share their commitment to the 2030 Agenda and their contribution to achieving its Goals and targets.

It is important to note that companies’ membership in the Peninsular 2030 Alliance—in addition to serving as a great example on a global scale due to the significance of their commitment to environmental preservation and the other UN Sustainable Development Goals—does not entail any additional costs beyond the actions the organization already carries out as part of its socially responsible management, but it does have a positive impact, as it aligns with similar initiatives by other organizations and contributes to the corresponding SDG in the Alliance’s annual report. To help companies report their actions in a timely and proper manner, a Practical Guide has been developed for this purpose, aimed at facilitating the participation of companies and civil society organizations and their contribution to the results of another year of actions and commitments.

In 2021, 67 companies and 10 civil society organizations, with support from the state governments of Quintana Roo, Yucatán, and Campeche, continued their collaborative efforts to promote broad-based social and environmental responsibility initiatives at the local level, while maintaining a global perspective aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

To date, through the Alianza Peninsular 2030 and its unique characteristics, we have established ourselves as a model of good civic and corporate practice through a voluntary declaration that is renewed annually, a voluntary report on our activities, and collaborative efforts to fulfill the 2030 Agenda. These commitments enrich our actions and the experiences we share with each of these initiatives—whether social or business-related—as we continue to prioritize the equality and dignity of people on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Raúl José López Osorio has been a contributor to the Yucatecan Business Foundation for the past 10 years. He has held various positions within the organization and currently serves as Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Technical Secretary of the groups specializing in corporate social responsibility on the Yucatán Peninsula, which operate as Corporate Social Responsibility Promotion Committees.

Represents the FEYAC on numerous councils and committees, notably the CEMEFI Regional Partners Committee , the Regional Climate Change Commission, the Sectoral Subcommittee on Environment and Natural Resources, the Campeche SDG Promotion Council, and the Alliance for Cuxtal in the municipality of Mérida