By José Ángel de la Paz

A new global study measuring awareness of, and engagement with, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and applied to more than 26 thousand people across 174 nations revealed that fewer than half of respondents were aware of the 17 SDGs adopted by the United Nations in 2015.

The survey, whose objectives included measuring global leaders’ level of knowledge of, and commitment to, the SDGs, considered the opinion of students and graduates of the 30 business schools belonging to the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM), including EGADE Business School.

The study, entitled "Rising Leaders on the Sustainable Development Goals. Findings from a Global Survey for Business Schools,” was conducted by the Center for Business and the Environment of Yale University, in collaboration with the GNAM network and Schlange & Co. consultants, yielded five main findings:

• Finding #1: Fewer than half of respondents were aware of the SDGs. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework is not well recognized around the world. Business school students showed a higher level of awareness than the general public, but still, less than 60% had heard of the goals. 
   
• Finding #2: Quality education and good health were consistently ranked as top priorities. Climate action was also a top priority, but showed more regional variability. We hypothesize that concern for climate action may be a “luxury” available only when more immediate concerns, such as economic well-being and clean water and air, are allayed. 
   
• Finding #3: There was a significant divide along gender and regional lines when assessing the importance of gender equality. Over 31% of female respondents ranked gender equality as an SDG of immediate concern, compared to approximately 15% of male respondents.
   
• Finding #4: Action is needed across all segments of society, led by governments. Respondents see an active role in all segments of society (including business, academic institutions and NGOs), led by governments, in achieving the SDGs. The importance of partnership between these agents came through as a priority. 
   
• Finding #5: Respondents are using the voting booth and short-term economic decisions to move on sustainability. This suggests that sustainability considerations are more prevalent in shorter-term transactions such as buying goods and voting, even where those transactions have longer-term implications. 

With regard to these results, Todd Cort, Faculty Co-Director for the Center for Business and Environment at Yale (CBEY) and Professor of Sustainability at Yale School of Management, commented: “We hope they provide ideas on models of collaboration and how business schools can incorporate the SDGs into their discourse and curricula, instigating changes and promoting peace and prosperity for the planet."

Additionally, José Ignacio Sánchez Galán, CEO of Iberdrola, said in the introductory text of the study: "Decarbonizing the economy and laying the foundations for sustainable growth are essential to guarantee fair and solid economic growth in the future, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals."

The Sustainable Development Goals, which respond to global challenges and set goals to be achieved by 2030, are: No poverty (SDG 1); Zero hunger (SDG 2); Good health and well-being (SDG 3); Quality education (SDG 4); Gender equality (SDG 5); Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6); Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7); Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8); Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9); Reduced inequalities (SDG 10); Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11); Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12); Climate action (SDG 13); Life below water (SDG 14); Life on land (SDG 15); Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16); and Partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).

Download the report with complete results here. 

Consult the results for different GNAM members here.

Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals here.