Responsible business conduct as a cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda – a look at the implications

This discussion paper gives an overview of the connections between human rights, responsible business conduct and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda).

The paper looks at the opportunities that an integrated approach brings for the realisation of human rights and sustainable development and the possible implications of an integrated approach in practice.

Chapter 1 considers the connections between responsible business conduct and the 2030 Agenda and reiterates that the implementation of the UNGPs can be the single most important contribution by business to the realisation of the SDGs.

Chapter 2 then considers what the 2030 Agenda and the UNGPs bring to each other arguing that the 2030 Agenda should be harnessed to advance responsible business conduct.

Chapter 3 concludes by unpacking how business and states can work jointly with the 2030 Agenda and the UNGPs in practice.