Fort Worth entrepreneurs joined the global business community to sign a pact that reinforces the U.N.-led goals of eradicating poverty, reversing inequality and halting climate change by 2030.
Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a global business network of more than 14,000 entrepreneurs, hosted the International Entrepreneurial Summit from June 25 to June 26 at the United Nations.
More than 180 entrepreneurs attended the event.
Over two days, the group held several discussions and formulated a set of concrete actions the business leaders will now implement to tackle issues surrounding the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals [SNDs].
The goals are comprised of 17 definite calls to actions, like, “no poverty”, “zero hunger”, “decent work and economic growth”, “peace, justice and strong institutions”, among others.
U.N. declared and adopted the Sustainable Development Goals for all its member countries to follow in 2015.
The Entrepreneurs’ Organization pledged to support the SNDs in 2017.
At June’ International Entrepreneurial Summit, Entrepreneurs’ Organization concocted the Outcomes Declaration, delineating 14 concrete actions that entrepreneurs can take to further the SNDs at the local level.
Entrepreneurs’ Organization Fort Worth, one of the organization’s 193 chapters, was represented by Debbie Cooley, president of M-Pak Inc.
“It was an honor to represent [Entrepreneurs Organization] Fort Worth at the International Entrepreneurial Summit at the United Nations,” said Cooley. “In my years as an EO member, I’ve seen how strongly EO encourages the vital role entrepreneurs play in driving positive change.
Together, with all the other organization members, Cooley signed the Outcomes Declaration.
“I’m excited by the opportunity to engage with the SDGs to lead substantive change both in our local community and around the world,” she said.
The specific outcomes generated by EO participants during the International Entrepreneurial Summit include:
· Develop a children’s educational program to engage member kids in social impact and teach the significance of the SDGs.
· Partner with Model UN organizations for programming, and ultimately host a global gamified competition among member kids.
· Increase business participation with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), with a goal of achieving a minimum 20 percent UNGC engagement among member companies within 12 months.
· Designate a Social Impact Day to celebrate social impact on one day globally, including education on ROI to businesses, key executive involvement and community action.
· Support more women in leadership: in the local and national community, in civic leadership, in local and global businesses, and on the boards of private and public companies.
· Create a gender equality certification program specifying equality in recruitment and selection during promotions, clear parental leave policies, safe environments for women, equal compensation, and equal opportunity to board positions.
· Commit to holding your company accountable for using no single-use plastic.
· Create and support a competition for companies to fund a sustainable water supply for 5,000 people in water-stressed areas of the world.
· Use B-Corp B-Lab Assessment to aggregate data and measure company impact.
“As a signatory of the Outcomes Declaration, I will adopt these actions in my own company, and I encourage other local businesses and organizations to do the same,” Cooley said. “Together, we can address these sustainable development challenges and help to make the world a better place,” Cooley continued.”