Following the Enel Group’s nomination to the European High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Platform on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) last October, Enel CEO and General Manager, Francesco Starace, attended the platform’s first meeting yesterday in Brussels.
The Enel Group is the only Italian company in the new 30-member Platform, and one of just two private sector members, which further confirms Enel’s role in leading the energy transition and sustainable development and growth in the countries in which it operates.
“The sustainability of the EU social and economic model is a key responsibility of all us Europeans. We owe it to the future generations of EU citizens, and also to the rest of the world, to indicate that there is a sustainable path for growth in societies worldwide,” said Enel CEO Francesco Starace. “Enel’s engagement in sustainable development is an integral part of its business strategy and I am proud to represent the group as well as the Italian private sector.”
The Platform, announced on November 22nd, 2016, was created to support and advise the European Commission on delivering the SDGs at the European level and provide a forum for the exchange of best practices at the local, regional, national and EU level, with the aim of following up on the long-term implementation of the SDGs in Europe to the EU Commission.
The aim was to set up an inclusive and well-balanced stakeholder representation with members from civil society, non-governmental organisations and the private and corporate sector. The platform draws from the expertise of a diverse group of stakeholders who cover the social, economic and environmental policy dimensions of sustainable development.
All members were included for their competence and experience in one or more of the 17 SDGs. Enel, in particular, was recognised because of its leading role in supporting the UN 2030 Agenda and its specific targets to contribute to four of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 4 – quality education; SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy; SDG 8 – decent work and economic growth; SDG 13 – climate action.