19 June 2024
On June 19, 2024, the Second National Forum on Sustainable Development was held in Minsk.
More than 400 people took part in the event, of which 47% were women. Among the participants were representatives of the diplomatic corps, government agencies, public organizations, the business environment, the UN staff team, regional sustainable development groups, scientific circles, youth, international organizations, media.
The Forum included a comprehensive discussion of the progress of the Republic of Belarus in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and priority areas of sustainable development in the context of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development for the period until 2040, as well as the exchange of the best practices and advanced international experience in this area.
The Forum program included a section on the exchange of international experience, a plenary session, panel discussions, as well as the award ceremony for organizations and citizens of the Republic of Belarus that have made a significant contribution to the achievement of the SDGs. The main topics of discussion include the green transition to inclusive and sustainable growth, social innovation and digital transformation, partnership between business and government, education for sustainable development, localization of the SDGs, etc. The following events were also organized at the Forum: exhibitions of products of Belarusian manufacturers and works of students of educational institutions of the Republic of Belarus – winners of SDG competitions, youth show of clothing collections of Belarusian brands based on historical, cultural, innovative and environmental approaches.
The moderator of the Forum was the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Yuri Ambrazevich. In his welcoming speech, he emphasized that Belarus has risen from 34th to 30th place in the ranking on SDG achievement. He said that in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was approved, that formalized a new, future-oriented concept of the global order, which provides for the harmonious development of the state and society based on three interrelated and interdependent components: economics, social sphere and ecology. “In 2017, to coordinate the work on the SDGs achievement in our country, the President of the Republic of Belarus signed the Decree that established the post of the National Coordinator and the Council for Sustainable Development – from that moment, the development of a unique in essence and structure of the National Architecture for the implementation of the SDGs in our country was launched”, – the Deputy Minister noted.
The message of the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko was read by the Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Egorov. The address emphasized that by signing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, Belarus assumed the corresponding obligations, which is why the state has ensured progressive economic growth, deepened social integration, and introduced new environmental initiatives over the course of 9 years. “Thanks to systematic work on the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the republic consistently occupies high places in this global project. I am convinced that the current Forum will not only demonstrate the progress of the Republic of Belarus in achieving the SDGs, but will also turn into a full-fledged dialogue platform for the exchange of the best practices”, – noted in the message.
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Igor Petrishenko delivered a welcoming speech, noting the high level of progress of Belarus in the SDGs achievement: “For more than 10 years, Belarus has maintained its position as a country with a very high level of development and ranks 69th among 193 countries in the Global Human Development Index. In the ranking of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, Belarus ranks 30th among 166 countries. Decent results strengthen our country’s position in the international arena and confidence that we are on the right path”. Igor Petrishenko also emphasized that the ideology of sustainability underlies all strategic and program documents, led by the National Strategy for Sustainable Development, the priorities of which are aimed at maintaining a balance of sustainability across several important components. “Our state’s policy in the social sphere is built precisely on these five priorities: family, knowledge economy, partnership, sustainable regions, environment. Our ideology is unchanged. The individual and his interests are in the focus”.
In his welcoming speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Aleynik emphasized Belarus’ commitment to the topic of sustainable development and the fact, that the 2030 Agenda is one of the fundamental documents of our time, and the Sustainable Development Goals contained in it – the most important guideline for the actions of all countries of the world.The Head of the Ministry also noted that the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals is vital both for all of us and for future generations and expressed confidence that joint collective efforts in this direction will continue both at the global and national levels.
The UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus Rasul Bagirov addressed the Forum participants with a welcoming speech. “In today’s world, where uncertainty is the norm, the SDGs provide guidance for a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable future. However, the path to this future is not easy, it tests our strength, – the UN Resident Coordinator reported. – Of the 169 targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, less than 20% are being achieved worldwide, which is a low result. And in almost half of the cases there is a decrease in the speed of implementation”. In his speech, Rasul Bagirov also noted that Belarus has high potential for further development and continues to demonstrate progress in achieving the SDGs.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua addressed the participants of the National Forum with a welcoming speech. “I encourage all countries to set high goals and seek innovative approaches to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, – Li Junhua called on. The UN Deputy Secretary-General also said that at the international level, Belarus and other UN member countries are preparing for major developments that will help guide future efforts to ensure sustainable development.
The UNECE Deputy Executive Secretary Dmitry Maryasin, in his welcoming speech, informed that even the UNECE Region, which covers 56 countries in North America, Europe and Central Asia, will achieve only 21 SDG targets out of 169 by 2030. “Approximately 79 SDG targets require accelerating progress. The dynamics are insufficient: for 15 targets we observe a negative trend that needs to be reversed. With six years left until 2030, progress is insufficient”, – Dmitry Maryasin reported. He noted that taking into account the situation in the world, holistic approaches are needed to ensure comprehensive and balanced consideration of social, economic, environmental consequences, negative megatrends, climate change dynamics, and the changing demographic situation. “For its part, the EEC is making efforts to support states in this direction”, – the Deputy Executive Secretary assured.
The National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Khomenko delivered a welcoming speech. He said that the Republic of Belarus is pursuing a targeted policy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals at the national level and strives to make an appropriate contribution to common efforts in the global context. Belarus especially stands out in its work to implement the 2030 Agenda due to the National architecture for managing work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the three most important components of the functioning of this structure: inclusiveness, outreach and monitoring. “The national mechanism of Belarus for achieving the SDGs proved its consistency and effectiveness. The National architecture is ready for further work to implement the tasks facing it, including those that will arise as a result of the work of this Forum. At the same time, we are ready to actively share our experience with other countries and borrow those practices that work effectively from our foreign partners”, – the National Coordinator reported. At the end of his welcoming speech, Sergei Khomenko emphasized: “The SDGs are based on creating the most favorable conditions for the life of the world community, therefore, by qualitatively fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals, we are all obliged to do everything to ensure that the world community develops only in a positive way”.
The Second National Forum on Sustainable Development is an important platform for discussing global topics and sharing experience in the field of sustainable development.
Azerbaijan’s experience in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ahmadov Ali Javad oglu. In his speech, he noted the importance of moral and spiritual-patriotic education, as well as the integration of the SDGs into state and government programs. The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about SDG events and projects being implemented in the country. He paid special attention to the environmental component, including the problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to his words, Belarus’ experience in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals can be in demand in other countries.
The Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichev told about the Russian Federation’s approaches to implementing the 2030 Agenda. He said that such elements as integration of the SDGs into strategic planning, continuous monitoring of SDG implementation, timely updating of regional development strategies, and attraction of investments are important for the Russian Federation. In his speech, Vladimir Ilyichev noted: “The key condition for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achievement of the SDGs remains the creation of partnerships at all levels, including at the national level. In this context, it is important to maintain further dialogue with National SDG Coordinators in the CIS countries. Among the current topics is the expansion of the work that are already underway on monitoring SDG indicators in the CIS region, including in terms of data verification”.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Belarus Rakhmatulla Nazarov informed about the achievements of Uzbekistan in the field of sustainable development. He noted that in 2023, 72.5% of all expenditures of the country’s state budget were aimed specifically at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. “Undoubtedly, the forum will give us the opportunity to discuss and move towards achieving the Goals that our countries have set for themselves” – the Ambassador summarized.
The Director of the Department of Trade Policy of the Eurasian Economic Commission Vladimir Serpikov provided the information on processes related to the SDG 13, and also shared the key points and achievements of cooperation between EAU member states in the field of climate change. “The EAEU faces a multi-level task: provide favorable conditions for decarbonization and sustainable development of national economies, guarantee the preservation of free movement in the market of our single economic space, reduce fragmentation risks for international trade with third countries“, – Vladimir Serpikov reported. Among the main achievements of cooperation, he noted the adoption of the Statement on Economic Cooperation of the Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union within the framework of the climate agenda, the adoption of the first package of measures (road map), the launch of the EAU Bank of Climate Technologies and Digital Initiatives.
The experience of Tajikistan regarding the implementation of the SDGs was presented by the National Development Council under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Head of the Main Directorate of Investment Policy and Regional Development of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan Manuchehra Majon. In her speech, she reported that Tajikistan on average achieved 70% of the possible best result of achieving the 17 SDGs in 2023, taking 85th place in the SDG achievement ranking. Manouchehra Majon also provided information on the main indicators of each SDG and outlined key steps towards further implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Speaker’s presentations:On the activities of the national mechanism for achieving the SDGs in the Republic of BelarusProgress towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Republic of Tajikistan
The plenary session was devoted to discussing areas for improving the system for monitoring and assessing progress in achieving the SDGs in Belarus, the progress of developing the National Sustainable Development Strategy of the Republic of Belarus for the period up to 2040 (NSDS-2040), and the impact of sanctions on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Since the very beginning of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Belarus has shown excellent results in its implementation and confirms its commitment to achieving all the 17 SDGs. The national list of indicators for achieving the SDGs created in the country includes 254 indicators, with almost 70% of the indicators correspond to the global level, and 78 indicators reflect national characteristics and development priorities.
According to the latest assessment for the period 2015-2022, about 80% of SDG indicators showed significant progress. The greatest progress was observed across eight SDGs. “At the same time, additional efforts are required in such areas as attracting foreign investment to our country, developing research activities and high-tech industries, tourism, and preserving ecosystems”, – the Deputy Chairperson of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus Natalya Tarasyuk informed.
At the same time, sustainable development of the country as a whole is impossible without sustainable development of the regions. In 2023, the Regional Data Platform was launched in Belarus – an innovative tool for assessing the localization of the SDGs, which has no analogues in the global statistical community. The regional list of SDG indicators includes 138 indicators, 60 of them reflect the specifics of regional development.
“Further work on monitoring the achievement of the SDGs is aimed at identifying areas that require additional efforts, using new sources of information in order to increase data availability”, – Natalya Tarasyuk reported.
Since 1997, the National Sustainable Development Strategy has been the main instrument that lays out the principles and tools for achieving sustainable development for Belarus. The First Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Belarus Andrei Kartun informed: “Currently, active work is underway on the sixth National Sustainable Development Strategy of the Republic of Belarus for the period until 2040. Its project will soon be submitted for public and professional discussion. This document is closely linked to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It harmoniously combines the solutions to complex issues of economics, ecology and social sphere, but at the same time the SDGs are adapted to national interests”. The main priority areas for NSDS-2040 are quality education, technological independence and intellectual economy, competitive business environment, balance of interests of the state and business, family values and equal opportunities for the development of personal potential, environmental safety.
Speaker’s presentations:On improving the system for monitoring and assessing progress in achieving the SDGsKey priorities of the concept of the National Sustainable Development Strategy of the Republic of Belarus for the period until 2040Impact of unilateral sanctions on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
During the discussion, topics such as the circular economy, the green transition to inclusive and sustainable growth, the elimination of hazardous waste stockpiles, the role of water resources, the contribution of Youth Ambassadors to the promotion of green values among young people, etc. were discussed.
The Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus Viktor Galanov addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. He emphasized that sustainable development is impossible without providing environmentally friendly conditions for the life of society and citizens. “In the Republic of Belarus, environmental protection is one of the key areas of state policy and is comprehensive in nature, affecting all natural components, ecosystems, as well as the economy, healthcare, science, education and other areas of state and human activity”, – the Deputy Minister emphasized. He also noted that solving problems involving the preservation of surface water bodies, improving air quality, preserving and restoring natural ecosystems and biological diversity, and using waste contribute to the achievement of the environmental SDGs.
Today, an increasing number of countries are expressing their intention to move towards a circular economy. This is primarily caused by the increase in the intensity of generation of waste from production and life activity of the population, as well as the need to involve them in economic circulation as an additional source of raw materials.
“Every year, about 50 million tons of industrial waste and about 4 million tons of solid municipal waste are generated in Belarus. Without taking into account large-scale waste, the level of production waste utilization is about 85%. At the end of 2023, the level of SMW utilization was more than 35%”, – Viktor Galanov informed.
Maximum use of materials, as well as the prevention of waste generation, are one of the priority areas of the state environmental policy of Belarus and are enshrined in many programs and documents.
It is important to emphasize that there is a steady trend on the part of Belarusian business to introduce certain principles of innovative circular business models. Measures are being implemented to introduce energy-efficient technologies and equipment, reducing waste generation and recycling, involving them in the fuel balance of renewable energy sources. New opportunities are created for additional employment of the population.
“The priority areas for the development of a circular economy in our country are: ecodesign, resource-efficient production, industrial symbiosis, packaging, sharing economy. The priority sectors for the transformation transition are: industry, construction, housing and communal services, transport, agriculture and forestry, services”, – the Head of Sector of Environmental and Economic Research at the Center for Human Development and Demography of the Institute of Economics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Nadzeya Batava said.
Belarus has been following the principles of a green economy for several years now, which has great potential for solving economic and environmental problems and opening new sources of growth. And the transition to this economic model is accompanied by various challenges and opportunities, including economic and political circumstances. “Just transition to a green economy is very important for the UN and it is very important to “leave no one behind” at this stage, as well as strengthen the relationship between the economy, the environment and the social environment”, – the Economist for Integrated Solutions at the UNDP Regional Center in Istanbul for Europe and the CIS Marian Mraz said.
It is worth noting that in Belarus today, work was successfully carried out to eliminate a significant amount of accumulated stocks of hazardous waste, including persistent organic pollutants, and the storage of the remainder was organized. The Chairperson of the Council of the Public Association “Ecological Initiative” Olga Volkova informed that for this purpose, international technical projects are being implemented in the country. Within the framework of these projects, only in 2023-2024, the removal and neutralization of waste containing PCBs with a total weight of more than 1183 tons was ensured; in 2021-2024, the removal and neutralization of more than 1240 tons of unusable pesticides containing POPs was ensured.
Particular attention should be paid to water resources and their conservation. According to the UN, water scarcity is one of the key global challenges and risks – by 2050, about 6 billion people will suffer from a lack of clean water. The First Deputy General Director of the unitary enterprise “Coca-Cola Beverages Belarus” Andrey Roshchupkin noted that, given the enormous importance of clean drinking water globally, Belarusian water reserves can become a source for appropriate diplomacy and its use should be given strategic importance within the framework of NSDS-2040.
In the modern world, in the context of climate change, the transition to a green economy is a necessity and an effective tool for achieving sustainable development. “It is important to understand that climate change is our reality. And, although geography can mitigate a significant number of problems associated with climate change, we must all make efforts to implement a green transition to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for us and subsequent generations, – the SDG 13 Youth Ambassador Dmitry Moroz affirms. – First of all, it is necessary to create an understanding among the population of the importance of work in this direction. The key category is youth. My mission includes educating young people, promoting sustainable practices and facilitating projects aimed at achieving the SDGs in general and the SDG 13 in particular”.
Speaker’s presentations:The circular economy as a driver of inclusive sustainable growthGreen transition to inclusive and sustainable growthElimination of hazardous waste stockpiles, including persistent organic pollutantsWater resources as an element of the concept of the National Sustainable Development Strategy of the Republic of Belarus for the period until 2040 (NSDS-2040)SDG Youth Ambassadors as green transition agents for youth
The participants discussed the role of digitalization in the healthcare sector, the possibilities of inclusive education, projects to improve the digital literacy of older people, people with disabilities, and the training of future parents, implemented in Belarus.
The Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Head of the Interdepartmental Group on Social Issues of the Council for Sustainable Development Valery Kovalkov addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. He said that social policy is the most important driver of the successful development of any society, and digital technologies are one of the most accessible and effective ways to lead an active life, regardless of age and place of residence. The Deputy Minister noted that more and more often representatives of social business are taking the path of social innovation to help citizens in need. “Social innovation is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are related to the Sustainable Development Goals, which place emphasis on such areas as social support, education, healthcare”.
Belarus has already achieved certain results in digitalization and has high potential for further digital development. “The country ranks 40th among 193 countries in the E-Government Index Ranking; 71% of the population aged 60 to 72 use a personal computer; 87% of the population actively use the Internet; more than 98% of the population have access to cellular communications”, – the Director of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Medical Technologies, Informatization, Management and Health Economics Alexey Shcherbinsky informed.
Among the priority areas of digitalization in the healthcare sector are the integration of medical information systems, providing doctors with an electronic signature, the development of medical information systems, biometric identification of patients, the introduction of artificial intelligence technology, etc.
The introduction of modern digital technologies, including online ones, into various spheres of life and production is necessary in the development of digitalization. Among such innovative means of communication is the project “We Are Expecting a Child” to prepare future parents for the birth and raising of a child. The Obstetrician-gynecologist and the Head of the MAMA PRO project Diana Mardas said that the main goal of the project is to increase the level of reproductive literacy of parents, to involve fathers in issues of pregnancy, childbirth, and raising a child.
In the era of digital development, it is necessary to pay special attention to vulnerable groups of the population. The modern world sets the state the task of full participation of older citizens and people with disabilities in the life of society at the social, economic and cultural level, and digital technologies create additional opportunities for the implementation of these tasks. To this end, the #yaonline project to improve digital mobile literacy of older people and people with disabilities has been already implemented in Belarus for the fourth year. The Specialist in Partnership with Business and Social Entrepreneurship at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Republic of Belarus Taisiya Eletskikh informed: “Every sixth person in Belarus is a person aged 65+, and almost half of them have access to the Internet and don’t know how to use the Internet”. The Head of the Public Relations and ESG Department of the Unitary Enterprise “A1” Pavel Solovyov said, that an online guide with methodological recommendations to help older people, people with disabilities and social workers was developed.
In order to successfully promote technological discoveries, resolve social conflicts and improve the lives of citizens, the role of social innovation is increasing. Time and world practice have shown that the potential of social innovation cannot be overestimated. Belarus successfully implements programs and initiatives aimed at slowing down the pace of aging, using the body’s reserves, improving working conditions, teaching affordable crafts, and ensuring equality.
The projects implemented by CJSC “BSB Bank” are aimed at achieving these goals. These include “Parent-Friendly Companies” to create favorable workplaces for parent employees, built on the principles of gender equality, and “JOB SHADOWING DAYS” to provide career guidance to schoolchildren, which helps them get an idea of their future profession. “As a result of this vigorous activity aimed at introducing and developing the principle of sustainable development – in the first quarter of this year, staff turnover was 4.7%” – informed the corporate secretary of CJSC “BSB Bank” Yulia Yurkevich.
Providing support to vulnerable groups of the population is also among the priority activities of the volunteer movement. “We, as volunteers, create an inclusive educational environment, – the SDG 10 Youth Ambassador Dmitry Savchuk noted. – For this purpose, I created an association of interests “Dima’s Workshop”, in which all children perform the same type of activity”.
Speaker’s presentations:Conceptual and strategic aspects of digital health in the Republic of BelarusOnline technologies in preparing future parents for the birth and raising of a child: the project “We Are Expecting a Child”Improving digital literacy of older people and people with disabilities: the joint project of UNFPA, A1 and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of BelarusPractical experience in implementing the initiative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and UNFPA “Parent-Friendly Companies” and other social projects using the example of CJSC “BSB Bank”Opportunities for education in implementing the SDG 10: reducing inequalities
During the discussion, issues of introducing innovative sustainable development practices into education, projects implemented in the country in this area, the role of the SDG Youth Ambassadors in promoting the ideas and values of sustainable development and their training, and other issues were discussed.
The Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus, Head of the Interdepartmental Group on Education of the Council for Sustainable Development Alexander Kadlubay addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. He noted the key role of education in shaping a person’s future and improving its quality. “Every year, education costs from the country’s budget amount to about 5% of GDP. According to the Education Index in 2022, Belarus is among the most developed countries in the world. In the Social Progress Index, in terms of access to basic knowledge, Belarus ranks 17th among 169 countries”, –the Deputy Minister informed. – Despite the fact that Belarus is demonstrating success in the Goal 4 achievement, we see the following key tasks for the future: professional development of teaching staff, active promotion of innovative educational practices, expanding opportunities for self-realization of youth”. Alexander Kadlubay expressed confidence that providing quality education is an investment in the future.
Achieving all the 17 Goals without education is impossible. “Today, one of the key tools that determine the movement of society in the direction of sustainable development should be a new innovative methodology called “Education for Sustainable Development”, – affirms the Head of the Coordination Center “Education for Sustainable Development” of the BSPU Inessa Zubrilina. According to her speech, this is the methodology that emphasizes changing values, attitudes and lifestyles, it is what unites cultures and countries, and it is what emphasizes a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to developing the skills and abilities needed to solve complex interconnected problems and challenges and ensure a successful sustainable future.
Since 2017, the Coordination Center “Education for Sustainable Development” of the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after Maxim Tank has been operating in Belarus. It performs key functions for the implementation of ideas and values of sustainable development in the educational process. Among the Center’s initiatives: socio-educational project “Orientation Towards the Future Generation”, competition “Train. Promote. Act”, international symposium “Education for Sustainable Development for All Generations – a Social Contract”, competition “Children about the SDGs”, forum “SDGs: up to 16 and Older”, media festival “Young Voices for Sustainable Development”.
“We all realize that education is the key to the prosperity of society and ensuring its sustainable development. One of the key links in education is teachers”, – the Director of the New School Foundation Lyudmila Rybchinskaya noted. The “Teacher for Belarus” program, established and implemented by the Local Educational Foundation “New School” since 2019, pays attention to the professional development of teachers and ensuring that every child has access to quality schooling to realize their potential.
Educational activities about the role of Belarus in sustainable development among young people are carried out by the SDG Youth Ambassadors. Today the 4th convocation is already in effect.
“Since the principle of “peer teaches peer” is the fundamental pillar of the work of the Youth Ambassadors, a number of initiatives have been developed and implemented to train young people in the field of sustainable development”, – informed the SDG Youth Ambassador of the 2nd and 3rd convocation Stefania-Vitaliya Vinnichek. These are projects and events such as the Forum of Educational Practices for Sustainable Development, project “She Is in Art and Life”, cycle of sustainable trainings, project “Sustainable Summer”, project “Sustainable University”, project “Student University”, the International Youth SDG Forum and others.
Speaker’s presentations:Education as a key mechanism for implementing the ideas and values of sustainable development“New School”: 5 years of work with a focus on sustainable developmentPromoting ideas and values of sustainable development through the Institute of the SDG Youth Ambassadors
As part of this discussion, participants discussed the provision of public-private partnerships and its successful practices, ways to increase the investment attractiveness of a business, supporting dialogue between business and the state in the interests of sustainable development, and the introduction of ESG principles into company strategies. The discussion was moderated by the Chairperson of the Board of CJSC “BSB Bank”, Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the Global Compact Network in the Republic of Belarus Sergei Dubkov.
To form an innovation-oriented economy and increase its competitiveness, it is necessary to develop public-private partnerships and implement important social projects with the help of innovation, capital and private business resources. The Chairperson of the Board of OJSC “Belinvestbank”, Deputy Chairperson of the Minsk City Council Oleg Kozaredov defines public-private partnership as any interaction between business and commercial organizations for the sake of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals with executive government bodies. Currently, the process of introducing the PPP mechanism is progressing in Belarus. OJSC “Belinvestbank” created and is successfully developing an educational ecosystem, the Pay service, the direction of green schools, and provides support to healthcare and women’s entrepreneurship. In 2023, the level of women’s involvement in the business environment was 39.5%, which is 8% higher than the level of 2018.
Every year the number of companies that implement ESG principles into their business strategies is growing. Among such companies is OJSC “Alivaria Brewing Company”, which is implementing the ESG program “Together Towards the Sustainable Future”. The program covers 11 ESG areas that have the most significant impact on business groups and society along the entire value chain “from the field to the glass”. Among the main achievements of the company, the Head of the Corporate Relations Department of OJSC “Alivaria Brewing Company” Natalya Kazakova noted: recycling of 68% of waste, transition to lightweight packaging, reduced water consumption by 19%, use of environmentally friendly refrigerant in more than 80% of refrigeration equipment.
“The most striking tool for assessing the extent to which a company’s key decision-making process is focused on sustainable development in the environmental, social and corporate spheres, as well as its exposure to non-financial risks, is the ESG rating” – the Executive Director of the rating agency LLC “BIK Ratings” Andrey Usachev said.
“Today, from modern business, in addition to the traditional provision of goods and services, a more ethical and transparent business model, aimed not only at making a profit, but also at minimizing the negative impact on the environment and involvement in solving social issues, is expected”, – the UNDP Program and Project Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus Kirill Stezhkin noted. – UNDP, together with the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus, is working to develop a system of institutions for public-private dialogue in the country. Among the priority areas of dialogue are: digitalization, inclusion, transparency”.
A key aspect in a successful partnership between the state and business is the creation by the state of conditions in which business will develop successfully and comfortably. “This is precisely the mission that the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus sees. We create a comfortable and sustainable investment environment for our national business, – the Deputy Head of the Monetary Policy Department of the Main Directorate of Monetary Policy and Economic Analysis Andrey Kategov said. – Our country can develop a unique system of state price regulation if the National Bank can provide appropriate macro-conditions for price stability”.
Speaker’s presentations:Comparative analysis of the implementation of public-private partnerships in the Union StateSuccessful partnership practices between OJSC “Belinvestbank” and the stateResponsible production as the basis of ESG business strategy and contribution to achieving the SDGsESG rating as a tool for increasing investment attractiveness
During the discussion, the achievements, problems and goals of Belarus in the field of localization of the SDGs, priority areas for the development of green urban planning and smart cities, and exceeding tourist attractiveness were discussed.
The Director of the State Scientific Institution “Research Economic Institute of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus” Natalya Berchenko delivered a welcoming speech. She noted that the development of sustainable cities and localization of the SDGs has a key role in the practical implementation of sustainable development priorities. “The goals of the National Strategy cannot be achieved without the topic of sustainable development becoming a priority and guideline at the level of regions, cities and regions of the country, – Natalya Berchenko said. – The famous slogan “Think globally – act locally” is exactly about this”.
The most important component in localizing the SDGs is the development and implementation of strategic documents for sustainable development at the regional and local levels. In this direction, it is worth noting the experience of the Mogilev region, which approved its regional strategy in 2020. In 2024, the second stage of this strategy, “Ten-Year Transition to Sustainable Development” was began. The Head of the Administration of the FEZ “Mogilev” Pavel Marinenko is confident that the experience of the Mogilev region will contribute to the development of regional sustainable development strategies of other areas.
“It is important that 60% of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without the involvement and coordination with local and regional governments”, – said the Associate Professor of the Department of Urban Planningof the Belarusian National Technical University, national expert of UNDP in the Republic of Belarus Vera Sysoeva.
Effective levers for localization of the SDGs in the Belarusian regions are strategic territorial planning and green urban planning, which maintain a balance between economic growth, social inclusion and concern for the environment. At the same time, green urban planning is aimed at creating a city that is convenient for all its residents, including all age groups, including people with disabilities and senior citizens, children and adolescents.
“Since 2011, the country has been implementing the global initiative “Children and Adolescent Friendly City”, – the Deputy Chairperson of the Novopolotsk City Executive Committee on Social Issues Andrey Odinochkin informed. – Today, we have paid very serious attention to creating the environment in which our children find themselves. Joining this initiative is a new impetus for the development of the city and promoting a more complete realization of children’s rights”.
The representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the Republic of Belarus, Vladimirovich Rustam Khaidarov said that to date 31 cities have already joined the initiative and 12 more cities have expressed their desire. It is expected that by 2025, 43 more cities will join the initiative.
In Belarus, the concept “green city” is closely interconnected with the concept “smart city”. “The concept of a smart city involves an innovative way of urbanizing city systems and is based on the use of information technology”, – the Director of OJSC “Giprosvyaz” Anton Alekseev noted. In order to implement this concept in the country, it is planned to introduce a regional state standard digital platform “Smart City (Region)” in Minsk, regional centers, cities and districts with a population of 80 thousand people or more, as well as providing services based on them in various spheres of life and management.
Along with the development of green and smart cities, special attention in Belarus is paid to such a vector of urban attractiveness as the development of tourism. “The development of tourism in cities makes it possible to establish interregional ties and actively exchange best management practices. For many cities, tourism can become a critical component of local economic development”, – noted the SDG 11 Youth Ambassador Egor Tsibulsky. – “Experience tourism” should be considered as a new vector for the development of tourism in cities”.
Speaker’s presentations:Experience in the development and implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the Mogilev Region: important lessonsPriority directions for the implementation of green urban planning in Belarusian regionsFormation of a friendly environment for children in Novopolotsk: interaction, results and developmentImplementation of the concept “Smart City” in the Republic of BelarusExperience tourism as a new vector for developing the attractiveness of cities
The closing remarks on behalf of the National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals were made by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Yuri Ambrazevich. He presented the final document of the Forum, which included the most important directions for the further implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the social and environmental sphere, healthcare, education, in the development of smart cities and sustainable regions of the future, international cooperation, monitoring and evaluation of the SDGs achievement. The Deputy Minister once again emphasized Belarus’ commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and asked the UN team in Belarus to actively promote the best practices and progressive experience of Belarus on sustainable development at the global level.
The ceremony of awarding Gratitude of the National Coordinator for Achieving the SDGs was held in Minsk
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