What exactly is this goal?: roads, maritime links, and access to electricity, water and Internet are all essential in making communities prosperous and sustainable. In addition, with the increasing growth of the global population, it is necessary to build more infrastructures in accordance with sustainability criteria. Technological developments and scientific research and innovation are essential in finding lasting solutions to the economic and environmental challenges. Currently, more than 4,000 million people lack access to the Internet. SDG 9 aims to achieve sustainable and high-quality infrastructures for everybody, to stimulate a new business model that respects the principles of sustainability and that adopts clean technologies and industrial processes, and that promotes innovation and achieving equal access to information, especially through the Internet. These objectives have a direct impact on the productivity growth of populations and on their ability to access health care and educational and training opportunities, as well as supporting the protection and care of ecosystems and natural resources at global level.
Corporate role: firms need to promote industrial processes that do not impact on the environment by incorporating small and medium-sized enterprises in their value chain. In other words, the private sector is called upon to promote the expansion of infrastructures and sustainable communication technologies and to support innovation and research within their range. Although companies operating in the sectors of telecommunications are more related to this goal, all firms can contribute. Further information
How to measure the corporate contribution: some indicators to evaluate corporate actions include: the total expenditure and investment for environmental protection; the development and impact of infrastructure investments and services; the size, type and impact of technological assets; and the direct economic value that is generated and distributed.