ADOPTING PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SDG 17 PARTNERSHIP FOR GOALS

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Abstract

This study seeks to understand how projects can make an increased impact on the UnitedNations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDSs).The study proposes CreatingShared Value as a synergistic method of achieving economic business success on projects,whilst also delivering wider benefits to society and the environment.The use of this ‘TripleBottom Line’ can link SDGs to normative project success criteria.The study provides acomparative study of literature with synthesis of findings and development of a conceptualmodelto guidefutureresearch.

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

The planet is in crisis and we need radical change. This study shares research data on whyProject Managers are critical partners in delivering this change, but first, must find the tools,methods and leadership to link project-level benefit realization with national, regional andglobal targets.The urgency of finding project solutions to these challenges is highlighted bytheUnitedNations(UN)IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange,thatreleasedtheirlatestandmostdamningreporton8thOctober2018(IPCC,2018).Thereportdrewon6,000researchstudies. The evidence of global warming exceeding 2oC above pre-industrial levels by the endof the century is overwhelming and indicates ‘impending catastrophe’ – climate change is anexistential threat to the human race.Whilst there have been some significant advances sincetheRioSummit(1992and+20in2012)andtheKyotoProtocol(2005),suchasthetransformational technologies for battery-powered cars and renewable energy, even a rise of1.5oC now appears to be inevitable.This temperature rise would potentially wipe out almostall of the world’s coral with hundreds of millions killed from the effects of drought (Sachs,2016) and coastal flooding, whilst the threat of starvation will likely trigger unprecedentedmassmigration.

More recently the international community has responded to the sustainable developmentchallengewiththeSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)for2030intheirreport,‘Transforming Our World: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development’, adopted by theUnited Nations General Assembly in 2015.Three years into a global commitment to delivermeaningful SDG action, we are falling behind on our global and local ambitions (Office ofNational Statistics, 2018).This is relevant for project managers because much of tomorrow’sresilienceanddevelopmentwillbedeliveredbytheprojectmanagementprofession,acrossallsectors, but especially infrastructure. For example, the IPCC’s October 2018 Report identifiesthat“directingfinancetowardsinvestmentininfrastructureformitigationandadaptation.