On July 13, during the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, Italy presented its Voluntary National Review (VNR)—a report through which UN Member States voluntarily account for the progress made in implementing the 2030 Agenda.
Italy’s VNR was drafted by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as part of the process to update the National Sustainable Development Strategy. The document is the result of an extensive consultation process involving national, regional, and metropolitan authorities, as well as representatives from civil society, academia, the research community, and the private sector.
For the 2026 edition, the UN Global Compact Network Italy contributed to drafting the national document and presented an overview of the methodology used at a dedicated event during the SDG Global Business Forum—the UN’s primary platform for focused dialogue on the role of business in sustainable development
The private sector as a key driver of change: a focus on the contribution of UNGCN Italy
The Network contributed to Italy’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) with a dedicated focus on the role of the private sector, which remains a key player in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The content was derived from an analysis based on data from the 2025 Communication on Progress (CoP)—the mandatory annual reporting for UN Global Compact participants—and a qualitative survey of approximately 100 companies within the Network.
The analysis highlights an increasingly pragmatic approach to sustainability, which is progressively being integrated into corporate strategies and guiding business decisions. Companies recognize tangible benefits from integrating the SDGs, particularly regarding reputation (45%) and economic performance (30%). At the same time, commitment to key ESG dimensions is strengthening:
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96% of companies have health and safety policies in place
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87% have policies on gender equality
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78% have adopted policies dedicated to energy and efficient resource use
Italy’s path towards achieving the 2030 Agenda
According to the VNR, the overall picture of Italy’s progress towards Agenda 2030 can be considered positive when viewed over a ten-year period: for 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, at least 50% of the indicators have shown progress.
However, challenges remain regarding progress on Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and Goal 15 (Life on Land), while notable improvements have been recorded for Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
According to the report, Italy intends to strengthen a governance model based on greater stakeholder engagement and a long-term vision consistent with the National Sustainable Development Strategy. The document also reaffirms the commitment to ensuring coherence between domestic policies and development cooperation by aligning economic, environmental, and social strategies with the SDGs.