Benjamin Mays, mentor to Martin Luther King, once said: “He who starts behind in the great race of life, must forever remain behind, or run faster than the man in front.” Mays’ comments were made in the context of the 1960s civil rights movement in America, but could just as easily apply to inequalities today—and with regard to our digital future.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global set of goals, targets and indicators that United Nations member states, and increasingly businesses, are expected to use to frame agendas and policies surrounding development. The global community has given itself until 2030 to achieve the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which will require a significant contribution from the private sector and collaboration across industries.
Our key issues matrix identifies sustainability issues that are relevant to NRG’s current business and operating environment. While creating this matrix, NRG personnel interviewed more than 100 internal and external stakeholders – the results were synthesized into an executive briefing document shared with NRG leadership.
The voluntary reporting landscape is evolving rapidly. We aim to actively participate in enhanced disclosure of key issues and work to achieve transparency as we create opportunities for progress. Our investors, customers and other stakeholders tell us that sustainability reporting is a critical ingredient of productive partnerships. Incorporating environmental, social and governance issues in our reporting tells a clear management story and helps inform long-term decision-making.
A black baby in the U.S. is more than twice as likely to die before its first birthday as a white baby. In addition to the medical care and access a woman and baby receive, these poor outcomes are also driven by social determinants of health—non-clinical factors such as social, educational, environmental, and economic opportunities that affect a woman’s overall health and wellbeing. This multi-faceted challenge requires a multi-faceted approach.