“The private sector became a key partner for achieving the SDGs”
Jonathan Baker is a specialist in the ecological and earth sciences program at the UNESCO regional office in Montevideo.
He is in charge of the Man and the Biosphere (MaB) program, an intergovernmental program that seeks to establish a scientific basis to improve the relationship between humans and the environment. MaB uses the exact, natural and social sciences, as well as education, as tools to improve people's livelihoods, and contribute to the equitable distribution of benefits and the conservation of ecosystems. Promotes the development of innovative and sustainable technologies.
Why must the private sector be convinced of the importance of sustainable development?
The private sector is a key actor in the world, specifically, for the goals of sustainable development because without this sector they cannot be achieved. 85% of people living in Latin America work for the private sector and if we take into account only 15% of the population, it is very difficult to achieve achievements.
Taking all actors into account is also very important for the man and the biosphere (MaB) program, since everyone is in a territory and works together to carry out projects. Not only the economic part is taken into account, but also the environmental and social part, working with the local population.
At a global level, the private sector is considered a primary actor in achieving the SDGs and UNESCO objectives in general.
Has the private sector always been considered this way, or is this approach new?
No, it is not new, although it has become more important in recent years. UNESCO began working with other partners. If you look at history, the first partners were the countries themselves, the governments, also the academic sector and the local populations, the indigenous populations, for example. The private sector for many years was not one of UNESCO's most important partners, but today that is changing because precisely the United Nations and UNESCO specifically saw that it is necessary to convene and also include the private sector to achieve the objectives.
What is the commitment of governments and the private sector to the SDGs in Latin America and the Caribbean?
A characteristic of the SDGs, which also differentiates them from previous objectives, is that they require the collaboration of many actors, including the private sector. I think that the governments of the region are very involved with the SDGs. Each country has a different way of working on them, but normally there is an institution that is in charge of managing and coordinating the projects to achieve the SDGs in their country. Several reports have been made at the regional level and progress can be seen there. And the same with respect to the private sector, in each country there is a private sector coordinating group that works on the SDGs and each country is advancing at its own pace.
What tools does UNESCO provide to a company that does not have the resources to invest in sustainable technology?
What UNESCO does is provide good practices for the private sector; it is not possible to give each company a specific technique or resources to convert their technology. What we do is work with them to promote best practices and achieve better management of resources in the biosphere. We also give importance to collaboration between all actors. There is a publication, made by seven Latin American countries, that shows precisely good practices and how the private sector, at the level of small or large companies, has been able to work towards more sustainable development. It is through publications, events and other networks that UNESCO has that support is provided to companies in this regard.
What is the connection between space technology and sustainable development?
Different tools can be used in search of sustainable development. With respect to space technology, previous work has been done with space agencies so that they can provide images of the state of the territory and its characteristics. You can also obtain information about space itself, and there are countries that have projects to work on this aspect.
What forums for debate are there to discuss spatial development?
Regarding space development, the United Nations has had a commission since the beginning of the space race, linked to the discovery of space. Now we are trying to modernize this and look at current issues related to the private sector, which today can also invest in space. So there is a process now within the United Nations system to regulate the legal aspect of all this, there are many discussions. Especially because it involves several countries, and it is very interesting to see the ethical part, why and how to involve all countries, and that they have the same opportunities in space, not just the powers that have already developed this technology.