TIRANA, May  31  /ATA/ The Embassy of Sweden in Albania and the United Nations are organizing the “Business 2030” Conference. This activity will introduce traditional and innovative sustainability practices to Albanian companies in a dynamic setting, thus leading the way towards a sustainable and resilient future. Well-known Swedish companies will share best practices on sustainable green businesses and production, including sustainable fashion and activism.

As Albanian companies face a myriad of challenges in the years to come, including sustainability, digitization, higher safety and quality standards, and integration into the European Union, the “Business 2030” conference will provide tools and insights needed to confront these issues head-on.

“We must all commit to building a sustainable future! With less than a decade remaining until the Sustainable Development Goals are met, the work of businesses to become sustainable is more important than ever. Albania and Albanian businesses are part of Europe and the European value chain, and we want to strengthen sustainable development. During the conference you will hear and be inspired by sustainable Swedish businesses and their sustainable production, from small to large companies. We want to support Albanian companies in the EU membership process by reaching its standards and contributing to a smooth and fair transition towards a climate-neutral economy, which improves the quality of life, creates better conditions for democratic and comprehensive development  that leaves no one behind,” said Elsa Håstad, ambassador of Sweden in Albania.

Speaking about the context in which this conference is taking place, Fiona McCluney, Permanent Coordinator of the United Nations in Albania said that “The world now realized that carbon emissions are not slowing, and we may not be able to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. As the earth’s temperature continues to rise, we will see crop yields suffer, widespread species losses, and an estimated 40 percent of the global population will be exposed to extreme temperatures. We will also reach tipping points, breakup of Greenland ice sheet, change in convection currents in North Atlantic, leading to more extreme weather and big temperature changes.

This session highlighted the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in guiding businesses towards sustainable practices. Key topics include CSR as a driver of profitability, social development goals, competitive advantage, business climate, responsible investment and corporate values.

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