Sustainable development is the “golden key” to solve global problems, and the realization of SDGs requires companies with sustainability leadership to take the lead and innovate.

In order to motivate enterprises to persistently explore the solutions to speed up the realization of SDGs and enhance their leadership in sustainable development, the “Leadership Forum on Sustainable Development 2023 and GoldenKey Delegation Tour to State Grid” was held in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The forum was supported by the China Academic Committee for Responsible Management Education and organized by China Sustainability Tribune, Research Center for Green Economy and Sustainable Development and Institute for Sustainable Development Goals of Tsinghua University, Institute of Ecological Civilization of Beijing University Of Technology, Centre for Responsible and Sustainable Business Education of Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University (XJTLU), International School of Low Carbon Studies of Shandong University of Finance and Economics, and co-organized by State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company and State Grid Jiangsu Technical Training Center.

Expert Gathering

Insights into the latest trends and opportunities in sustainable development

Focusing on “Contributing to SDGs and Impacting the Future”, the forum invited representatives from international organizations, renowned experts and scholars, and representatives from GoldenKey Campaign enterprises to discuss the building and enhancement of sustainability leadership and further develop the consensus.

Zhong Ping, Director of the Global Environment Division (Division of Climate Change International Cooperation) of the Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21, delivered a special message on behalf of Huang Jing, Director of the Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21. He expected that the GoldenKey Campaign would drive more enterprises to strive for sustainability leadership and make greater contributions to China’s sustainable development.

Pan Jiahua, Director of the Institute of Ecological Civilization of Beijing University of Technology, and member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, gave a keynote speech at the conference, pointing out that sustainability leadership requires companies to have the eyesight, determination, heart (courage), footwork (practice) and vitality for sustainable development.

Qian Xiaojun, Associate Dean of Academics, Schwarzman College of Tsinghua University, Director of Research Center for Green Economy and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University and Chief Coach of GoldenKey Campaign, said that GoldenKey has set up a benchmark for SDG-oriented corporate actions, and the actions, strategies, experiences and stories of all these enterprises are examples for enterprises committed to sustainable development to follow.
Exchanging and Learning

Sharing the amazing stories of GoldenKey Champion winners

In the “Iconic Moment” session, the representatives of GoldenKey·Champion winners from different industries shared their corporate actions.

Transitioning to Low Carbon - Signify’s Approach to Carbon Neutrality

Xiao Dan, Vice President of Integrated Marketing Communications, Signify (China) Investment Co., Ltd., representative of the first GoldenKey·Champion Trans 4 Future winner

Turning Passion into Action - Sustainability Action and Declaration of China Shengmu Organic Milk Limited

Zhang Shuyuan, Director of Sustainable Development of China Shengmu Organic Milk Limited, representative of the 2nd GoldenKey·Champion New Natural Economy winner

The Charm of Low Carbon Spaces - Starbucks Greener Store Program and Insights

Wang Chunxiao, Director of Government Affairs and Social Impact, Starbucks Enterprise Management (Northeastern China) Co., Ltd., representative of the 3rd GoldenKey·Champion Sustainable Consumption winner

Creating a carbon gold pot - First regional distributed PV carbon inclusive mechanism by State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company

Liu Xiaolin, representative of the third GoldenKey·Champion 30·60 Decarbonization Pioneer action, State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company

Launching “Bringing GoldenKey Cases to Universities Program”

The “Bringing GoldenKey Cases to Universities Program” was launched in this forum, with a view that the GoldenKey Action can be brought down to the teaching and academic research of teachers and students in universities.

Yu Zhihong, President and Editor-in-chief of China Sustainability Tribune and initiator of GoldenKey Campaign, introduced the context of the program and expected universities and business schools to discover the potential value of GoldenKey cases for teaching and research.

Cao Xuanwei, Director of the Centre for Responsible and Sustainable Business Education of Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University (XJTLU), said that XJTLU would make full use of its advantages to stimulate more students and faculty to learn about the excellent sustainable development practices of Chinese companies.

Wang Jingmin, Executive Director of International School of Low Carbon Studies, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, shared the ideas behind the development of GoldenKey cases and expressed his excitement to present the business logic, practical experience and profound insights of corporate sustainability actions to more scholars.

Mette MORSING, Head of Principles for Responsible Management Education, UN Global Compact (UN PRME), gave a special presentation on the philosophy and development of UN PRME, emphasizing that management education institutions such as business schools should research on and teach responsible management in order to help the upcoming business leaders address issues related to sustainable development.

Perspectives Exchanges

Six elements of sustainability leadership revealed

Based on a large body of observation data and thoughts on GoldenKey actions, six key elements of sustainability leadership are proposed in this form. Executives from top companies, experts from academic institutions and representatives from international organizations presented their thoughts, experiences and insights on these elements.

Strategy

Enterprises need to have a global and holistic perspective with a strong sense of responsibility and mission for the future and translate it into bold, practical and sustainable strategies and actions.
Wang Jie, Vice President of Schneider Electric

Insight

Enterprises need to pay attention to the challenges faced by sustainable development to accurately identify and define them, and to build acute business insights and practical business solutions, so as to spearhead business development.


Li Jianjun, Director and Chief Strategy Officer of Kingfa SCI. & TECH. CO., LTD.

Innovation

Enterprises need to recognize the challenges related to sustainable development and think outside the box to develop creative solutions to achieve breakthroughs in technology, business and product innovation.


Wang Veijia, Vice President, Dell Technologies Inc

Coordination

Enterprises need to deeply analyze the internal and external resources and environment, and collect and leverage the favorable ones with systemic thinking. Consequently, a concerted force and collaboration with others in the value chain will be formed to provide solutions and achieve goals.


Yin Juelin, Professor of School of Business, Sun Yat-sen University

Action

Enterprises need to focus on clear goals, reach broad consensus, encourage large-scale participation, produce sustainable results, create a close loop of action, and build a mature action system.


Liu Xinfang, Director of Social Responsibility Division, External Relations Department, State Grid Corporation of China

Influence

Enterprises need to not only deliver actions and results, but also be able to tell their stories of sustainability actions, and be able to attract, bring together and unite more people.


Wang Yalin, Project Officer of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), China

“GoldenKey-SDG Leading Enterprise” released

2022 GoldenKey-SGCC Special “Problem List” issued

In 2022, State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) and China Sustainability Tribune held the “GoldenKey-SGCC Special” for the first time, showcasing a large number of good practices of State Grid contributing to SDGs. This year, they continue their collaboration to hold the second “GoldenKey-SGCC Special”.



Liu Xinfang, Director of Social Responsibility Division, External Relations Department, State Grid Corporation of China, released the “problem list” of 2023 GoldenKey-SGCC Special. He said that the competition will continue to uphold the criteria and procedures of the GoldenKey Action to conduct roadshows/evaluation and select the most representative solutions of State Grid, which will be promoted to the world as China’s solutions.



Han Bin, Executive Deputy Director of Training and Consulting Center of China Enterprise Confederation and GoldenKey expert, delivered a message for 2023 GoldenKey-SGCC Special. He pointed out that the GoldenKey-SGCC Special demonstrated the responsibility and commitment of Chinese enterprises represented by State Grid Corporation of China to contribute Chinese SDG solutions and Chinese wisdom to the world.



In the afternoon, China Sustainability Tribune held an event entitled as “GoldenKey Delegation Tour to State Grid” (State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co.,Ltd) , where representatives of international organizations, renowned experts and scholars and enterprise representatives went to project site of excellent practices by State Grid to see the construction of new power system according to the 30·60 Decarbonization Goals.

In 2020, China Sustainability Tribune launched the “GoldenKey—SDG Solutions” campaign, aiming to discover and shape the corporate model to offer SDG solutions, so as to promote sustainable development in China and around the world. In the past three years, the event has attracted 494 actions from 414 enterprises in different industries and fields, and explored 323 outstanding GoldenKey solutions; the 2022 (the first) “GoldenKey-SGCC Special” developed 57 State Grid solutions to tackle global challenges.