On Tuesday 12th July, HRH The Prince of Wales joined the Measure What Matters (MWM) team to successfully convene the global forum, “Measure What Matters: a Framework for Action“, with Willis Towers Watson in London.

The forum is the culmination of the three year MWM project undertaken by the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) His Royal Highness’ Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S), in partnership with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the , and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).

The forum brought together leaders from government, business, finance and civil society to inspire action towards achievement of the UN global goals for sustainable development. Delegates representing organisations and stakeholders from around the world explored the vision for 2030, and encouraged discussion on how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being achieved, with particular focus on better ways to measure progress.

The SDGs have been agreed by governments around the world. They set out 17 ambitious goals to be delivered by 2030 to put the world on a pathway towards the development of a more risk aware resilient and sustainable global economy. The MWM project aims to generate greater alignment and collaboration between actors at all levels – global, national, regional and local to accelerate the transition towards these goals.

As host of the forum, John Haley, CEO of Willis Towers Watson, opened the event by highlighting the insurance market’s commitment to supporting the SDGs.

I am delighted to host the forum here at Willis Towers Watson and welcome The Prince of Wales to share in these important discussions. The global goals are all about risk, and Willis Towers Watson’s collective capabilities – and those across the wider industry – play an essential role in enabling governments, business and the wider financial sector to manage that risk. The goals provide a vital framework that will inform our strategies and create a shared agenda to connect with partners and clients over the next three years. This includes insurance-related expertise and capabilities, from risk management and risk sharing to investment management and health systems. I am pleased to see that the global insurance market has united to support the Sustainable Development Goals and Willis Towers Watson is proud to join this industry-wide effort through the Insurance Development Forum (IDF).
John Haley, CEO, Willis Towers Watson

The forum included an expert panel discussion on opportunities and risks of the SDGs, including the data requirements and investment required to meet the goals. Panelists included Remy Briand, Global Head of Research, MSCI; Martine Durand, Chief Statistician and Director of Statistics Directorate, OECD; Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation; and Danny Sriskandarajah, Secretary General and CEO, Civicus.

This was followed later in the day by a keynote speech from HRH The Prince of Wales highlighting the importance of leaders from across all sectors, government, business, finance and civil society working together to make the the SDGs a success. 

The forum closed with pledges of commitment for further action and collaboration around the SDGs from delegates, ensuring that leaders from across communities are prepared to speak credibly with one voice in support of achieving the Global Goals.

For more information on the forum, please contact Stephanie Akinyelure:
stephanie.akinyelure@royal.gsx.gov.uk

For more information on the MWM project, please contact Emily Benson:
emily.benson@https://greeneconomycoalition.org