Wicked problems and sustainability challenges in the era of VUCA

Liangrong Zu

Chapter 2 in The Elgar Companion to Corporate Social Responsibility and the Sustainable Development Goals, 2023, pp 9-26 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In Part I, the author intends to provide readers with the overview of the evaluation of corporate social responsibility (CSR), movement of sustainable development and implications for the initiative of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development from a systemic or integrative perspective. The author starts with the discussion of the wicked problems in the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) world which we face for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) and building a sustainable and inclusive society. The author analyses the origin of corporate social responsibility and transition to sustainability and SDGs. Part I also claims that the notion of sustainability has to be redefined from the systemic perspective in the context of complex environment. The principles and value of CSR and sustainable development are the foundation on which Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and SDGs were developed, thus, Part I reviews the difference between MDGs and SDGs from the holistic view of point and the reason why MDGs were changed to SDGs. Finally, Part I ends up with the new vision for achieving SDGs and building a sustainable and inclusive future. The new vision was drafted by the United Nations in the 2021 Report of ‘Our Common Agenda’. The new vision is a blueprint for how multilateralism can adapt to the threats of the 21st century. It calls for a renewed commitment to generating the global public goods that are needed for the future of humanity and the planet based on solidarity between nations, peoples and generations. Our Common Agenda is also an agenda of action designed to accelerate the implementation of SDGs. It requires business leaders and governments to combine the best of our past achievements with the most creative look to the future if we are to deepen solidarity and achieve a breakthrough for people and the planet.

Keywords: Business and Management; Development Studies; Economics and Finance; Environment; Politics and Public Policy Sustainable Development Goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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