THE year 2024 has arrived, and perhaps most of us already have New Year's resolutions. Yet, with all our desires to become better people, is becoming sustainable a part of it?

Before, honestly, sustainability was not much of an interest or personal priority in my line of work as a practicing certified public accountant. I was content with auditing financial information and being involved with professional organizations. When I was given the opportunity to lead the integration of sustainability into our firm's operations, my initial reaction was one of hesitation — it was unfamiliar territory. I understood that undertaking the new challenge would entail traversing a difficult road, but it could also turn out to be rewarding and worthwhile. Today, I'm glad to have taken it on.

Educating myself was the first step. After a lot of research and exposure to content that focused on sustainability, I realized that it was crucial to man's existence and the continuity of our way of life. I got more interested in the subject, and that interest turned into passion.

When you dream of a better world, what do you see? One might think of a world free from poverty and with equal opportunities for all. Another may envision a world where the environment is nurtured, and natural resources are abundant and easily accessible.

In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development presented the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), later adopted by UN member states in 2015 to replace 2000's Millennium Development Goals. The SDGs are a set of universal and comprehensive goals that focus on providing long-term solutions for political, economic and environmental issues across the globe. It is believed that the dream of a better world is now possible, but it is not that simple: everyone's buy-in, responsibility, involvement and cooperation are key.

The environmental issues and inequality that we see every day should serve as an eye-opener. Sustainability is more than a buzzword. Collective action is needed because achieving sustainability is everyone's responsibility. The SDGs' target deadline is 2030, and it is already 2024. We are pressed for time: there are only six years remaining to meet these goals and implement sustainable solutions.

Out of the 17 SDGs, the Philippines has managed to achieve one. According to the latest SDG index, the country now ranks 98th out of 166 countries, a three-point drop from 95th in 2022. This sad reality can be attributed to our understanding of how significant these issues are. We can point our fingers at the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, but we also have to accept that the sense of urgency seems to evade us as a nation.

The thrust of most businesses seems focused on mere compliance when it comes to sustainability. This is evident in their sustainability reports and is very consistent with the results of a study a few years ago. If this is the mindset of those required to report on sustainability, how can we expect those who are exempt to even think about it, let alone contribute? It seems, and it is sad to note, that our own mindset is a major obstacle to achieving the SDGs. Sustainability should not be limited to mere reporting for it to be meaningful; efforts should go way beyond it.

Another major obstacle is the lack of mass education. Ordinary citizens have limited access to the country's initiatives or the fundamental principles of sustainability. We are still struggling as a nation to fully comprehend the implications if we fail to become a sustainable country. Moving initiatives forward will require increased government efforts to reinforce cooperation at all levels of society and foster a proactive stance through incentives.

In a nutshell, it should really be about everyone doing their part. Let us take, for example, the Extended Producer Responsibility law. The obliged enterprises (OEs) — those that generate plastic packaging waste — are the ones primarily responsible for complying. However, without the support of the community and the government, especially at the local level, achieving its main objectives will be a major challenge for OEs.

Being able to embrace an idea starts with educating oneself. The more we know about something, the more it will hold weight in our lives. As with my own journey, access to valuable information can produce transformational change. I believe that both the government and the private sector need to amplify education and informational campaigns about sustainability. The goal must be that common folk be able to easily digest and understand the political, economic and environmental challenges easily and discover their vital role in addressing these.

Just like what we did within our firm, we thought of ways to educate everyone and help them embrace sustainability. We asked ourselves: How can we make sustainability relatable for all ages and effectively boost information about our initiatives? That's why we came up with PAWI, our sustainability mascot inspired by the pawikan (sea turtle). Our hope is to increase the engagement of staffers and clients towards the achievement of our sustainable initiatives. Nevertheless, we still have a long way to go. Even if we do achieve our goals, true realization will only be possible when everyone else becomes sustainable.

Where the government and public sectors are lacking, private institutions must step forward and fill the gap. Businesses can mount sustainability campaigns and events that strive for collaboration with communities. An example would be the Management Association of the Philippines' campaign against malnutrition and child stunting. The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines is also doing initiatives around the country. As for the accounting profession, the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants is actively engaging different sectors. The Rotary Club of Makati, of which I am a member, has a lot of projects that contribute to sustainability.

I have come to realize that what started as a career challenge has transformed into personal advocacy. I was given the opportunity to help, in my own little way, shape a better future for our country and a world where the next generation can thrive.

Realizing the importance of sustainability is only the beginning. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, let us take time to pause and ponder what we can do for our environment, communities, and the betterment of the nation. It is essential to take a mindful approach when it comes to sustainability. However small our individual actions are, these will still have massive ripple effects on achieving the SDGs. Our collective efforts are the key. They possess the power to create a culture of responsibility, innovation, and conscientious decision-making.

The goal of making New Year's resolutions is for self-improvement. Sustainability does exactly that. It allows us to evaluate our actions and how they will impact the future. So why not add it to your list and then make it more than just a New Year's resolution?

Christopher M. Ferareza is an advisory services partner and sustainability leader at P&A Grant Thornton. Comments to this article can be directed to web.ebio@ph.gt.com.

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