Gaetano Cavalieri, president of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO), spoke at the high-level segment of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) about the jewellery industry’s commitment to support sustainable development goals and implement UN’s Agenda 2030.
“There is no contradiction in a luxury product industry committing itself to helping solve the world’s most pressing economic, social and environmental challenges,” Cavalieri said.
“Our raw materials are sourced predominantly in economically under-developed regions of Africa, South America, Asia and the South Pacific, as are many of our key stakeholders. We have an overriding strategic interest in partnering with governments and the international community to supporting the stated goals and principles of the Declaration on Future Generations, and in particular to help eliminate the intergenerational transmission of poverty and hunger, while providing a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment.”
CIBJO received special consultative status in ECOSOC in 2006, and since then has served as a jewellery industry’s sole representative in the organisation, which brings under one umbrella government, business and civil society in the effort to support the UN agenda.
“With only seven years left to meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda, we all need to scale up. CIBJO has promoted an industry-wide campaign in support of the sustainable development goals, through a global educational programme, and the organisation of live seminars at events in different countries,” Cavalieri continues.
“Our ESG guidance document, which is available online at no cost, presents 14 specific principles, five of which relate to environmental policy, four to socially responsible policies, and five to governance. Each principle includes a set of recommended actions, and an indication of its relevance to specific UN sustainable development goals.”
Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief, Rough&Polished
