SDG Publishers Compact: Communication on progress

Communication on progress RESULTS FROM THE FIRST ANNUAL SURVEY 2022

Contents 1. Executive Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2. The SDG Publishers Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3. Survey Results .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5.1 SDG Publishers Compact Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5.2 Prioritizing Sustainability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 5.3 Raise Awareness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 5.4 Take action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

1. Executive Summary Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, by 2030 will require every individual, organization, and government to prioritize sustainability, create awareness around the SDGs and more importantly act. The publishing sector is essential to the success of delivering an inclusive, sustainable, and equitable society. This report, commissioned by the United Nations Publications and the International Publishers Association, assesses for the first time the progress being made by members of the SDG Publishers Compact.

The Compact launched in 2020, has attracted over 250 members which include publishers, publishing related organizations, and national/regional publishing associations. All members have signed up to 10 concrete actions that help to prioritize, raise awareness and take action towards the SDGs both internally within their organizations, and externally through the content that is published and shared.

Key findings include: • For publishers by publishers: Of the SDG Compact Members, 70% are publishers themselves. An additional 11% identify as non-for-profit organizations such as foundations and 5% represent national/regional publishing associations. With over 250 signatories, the compact has arguably helped to raise awareness of the SDGs within the publishing sector and provided a concrete starting point for any organization, regardless of size, to start engaging with the SDGs. • Most members have already taken the first step: The first step after signing the SDG Publishers Compact is to communicate your commitment. Encouragingly, 97% of members reported to either having already done this or were planning on doing so within the next 12 months. Over 60% of members had added the SDG Publishers Compact logo to their website and/or communication materials. Additionally, members also reported that 52% had already communicated some initial SDG progress on their website, blogs or Corporate Responsibility reports.

• Members are dedicating resources towards addressing SDGs: An important aspect to drive progress on SDGs is to have dedicated resources. Members reported that 68% had appointed a lead person to drive SDG progress within their organization. An additional 25% indicated they planned to do this within the next 12 months. However, members also reported that only 14% had a dedicated budget for SDGs while the majority, 70%, used resources from existing budgets.

• Members are embedding SDGs into content: Members have reported that 69% are either currently or intending to use the SDGs in categorizing their content, for example in a catalogue or perhaps as a filter on their website, within the next 12months. However, for around 20% of members, this is not a priority at the moment. In terms of acquiring content related to the SDGs, 53% of members are either currently, or planning to do this within the next 12 months. Again, a slightly higher proportion of members, reportedly 34%, do not see SDG alignment in their acquisition strategy as a current priority.

• Members have prioritized at least one SDGs and are setting targets: The majority of members, 86%, have already prioritized at least one SDG. More encouragingly, 68% of those have set specific objectives and targets. In terms of which of the Global Goals SDG Publishing Compact members are focused on, the majority list Climate Action (SDG 13) and Quality Education (SDG 4). We also see a high number focus on Goals related to diversity and Inclusion (SDG 5 Gender Equality and SDG 10 Reducing Inequalities) as well as responsible consumption (SDG 12).

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2. The SDG Publishers Compact The SDG Publishers Compact, developed by the United Nations and the International Publishers Association (IPA), features 10 action points that publishers, publishing as-sociations and others can commit to undertaking in order to accelerate progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Signatories aspire to de-velop sustainable practices and act as champions of the SDGs, publishing books and journals that will help inform, develop and inspire action.

Launched virtually in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Compact quickly at-tracted signatories across the publishing sector and achieved 100 members within its first year. Subsequently, to help showcase and share best practices internationally, the IPA launched a dedicated SDG dashboard to encourage members, and others, to share projects and best practices related to all 17 Global Goals.

SDG Publishers Compact 10 action points Prioritizing Sustainability

1. C ommitting to the SDGS: Stating sustainability policies and targets on our website 2. A ctively promoting and acquiring content that advocates for themes represented by the SDGS 3. Annually reporting on progress towards achieving SDGs 4. Nominating a person who will promote SDG progress

Raise Awareness

5. Raising awareness and promoting the SDG’s among staff 6. Raising awareness and promoting the SDG’s among suppliers 7.

Becoming an advocate to customers and stakeholders

8. Collaborating across cities, countries and continents

Take Action

9. Dedicating budget and other resources towards accelerating progress 10. Taking action on at least one SDG goal

Key Milestones: The SDG Publishers Compact built upon an initial report, Publishers and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals commissioned by the IPA and the Norwegian Publishers Association for the 33rd International Publishers Congress. The report high-lighted how publishers were already contributing towards the sustainable development agenda but also identified opportunities where publishers could be catalysts of change.

The SDG Publishers Compact was designed to be inclusive of all organizations big or small, to help prioritize and galvanize action on the SDGs. The Compact was launched virtually during the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2020 with the Frankfurt Book fair, United Na-tions Publications, the German Booksellers and Publishers Association and the Inter-national Publishers Association becoming founding signatories.

Other initial signato-ries included many from academic publishing with both Elsevier and Springer Nature, but also national publishing associations such as the French Publishers Association.

Part of becoming a signatory is also about sharing best practices and complementing and highlighting signatories taking action. In 2021, the IPA launched a new SDG dashboard, providing a key reference resource where projects, activities and progress could be collected and recorded to be shared more widely internationally.

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In 2021, United Nations Publications launched the SDG Publishers Compact newsletter to help share best practices and update signatories on relevant events.

Additionally, the IPA hosted their first sustainability summit during the Frankfurt Book Fair, bringing together leaders of associations and compact members to discuss pro-jects and meet each other.

Additionally, during London Book Fair, the IPA partnered with Elsevier to host the first sustainability keynote featuring Dr Richard Horton, the ed-itor of The Lancet, to inspire SDGs to be prioritized throughout the publishing sector.

In 2022, the Compact reached its second milestone of 200 signatories inspiring further action groups such as HESI SDG Compact Fellows within Academic Publishing and the 2030 Publishing Accelerator focused on SDG 13 Climate Action.

In 2023, the SDG Publishers Compact is proud to release its first progress report based on a survey of members’ progress against the 10 commitments. The Compact has al-so been translated into six languages, with a focus on encouraging international members to join and collaborate. These included for example Adeax Educational Pub-lications from Ghana, the Mexican Publishers Association, and the Guadalajara Book Fair.

Sharing best practices SDG Publishers Compact SDG report 2020: • IPA launches first SDG report for 33rd International Publishers Congress

2021: • Compact is launched virtually during Frankfurt Book Fair • Initial signatories help promote

2021: • Compact reaches 100 members • IPA launches the SDG dashboard to share best practice • UN launches the monthly newsletter

Creating forums of discussion 2021: • IPA & UN launch the 1st Sustainability Summit • London Book fair hosts the first Sustainability keynote

Taking action & tracking progress 2022: • Compact reaches 200 signatories • Launch the first progress report • New action groups form

Next steps The SDG Publishers Compact is committed to tracking progress and will issue an annual survey to collect and measure progress towards achieving the SDGs. Additionally, the SDG Publishers Compact will continue to raise awareness of the SDGs in the publishing sector and empower all publishers and publishing organizations to becoming members. In 2023, the compact is focusing on attracting members in areas currently underrepresented amongst membership, for example in the Middle East, with new translations available of the Compact into the six official UN languages.

The SDG Publishers Compact also continues to work with international book fairs to facilitate sustainability focused sessions and aims to host webinars to support and connect members to focus on particular SDGs. 6

Attendees of the 2022 Sustainability Summit at Frankfurt Book Fair | Credit: © Nabs Ahmedi

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3. Survey Results 5.1 SDG Publishers Compact Members: Who is part of the SDG Publisher Compact?

The SDG Publishers Compact is open to all publishers and publishing organizations that voluntarily commit to the Compact’s 10 action points. The majority of current members, presently over 70%, identify as publishers.

This includes large global publishing houses such as Elsevier and Springer Nature as well as medium to small publishers such as Kids Can Press and SRL Publishing. Furthermore, some 11% are non-profit organizations such as foundations. Other types of members comprise national and regional publishing associations that help raise awareness and promote sustainability among their publishing membership. Associations that have joined include the French and British national publishers associations, and STM and ALPSP that both represent academic publishers. Additionally, bookfairs such as the London, Frankfurt and Guadalajara ones have also signed the SDG Publishers Compact. To hear more from the compact members see videos here.

13.6 5 11.4 Publishers

70

Non Profit Associations Other

A first step towards sustainability In the progress report, members were asked if they were also part of the UN Global Compact. This is a separate voluntary pact developed by the United Nations to get businesses and firms, across all sectors, to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies and to report on their implementation. The UN Global Compact has a robust reporting requirement, and it was envisaged that the SDG Publishers Compact would provide a vital first step for many across the publishing sector, regardless of size, to engage with sustainability and the SDGs. In this first progress report, a relatively small proportion of SDG Publishers Compact members, some 29%, reportedly also confirmed being members of the UN Global Compact. A further 25%, indicated they were considering additionally signing up to the UN Global Compact over the following 12 months. However, some 45% did not currently view signing the UN Global Compact as a priority. The results suggest that the SDG Publishers Compact is an excellent first step for the publishing sector. As members grow more experienced, they will consider additional commitments and actions.

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Are you a member of the UN Global Compact?

25% 45.5% Yes

29.5%

No, this is not a priority No, but we plan to joing in the next 12 months

5.2 Prioritizing Sustainability The SDG Publishers Compact’s 10 commitments are broadly divided into three main categories.

The first category relates to members that prioritize the SDGs by dedicating resources and reporting on their progress. Members have reported that some 68% already appointed a person to lead their SDG related efforts. An additional 7% reported to be planning to do so within the following 12 months.

We also see a number of new roles within publishing houses and publishing related organizations dedicated to sustainability. Additionally, sustainability focused programmes at international book fairs such as the ones in London, Frankfurt and Guadalajara provide an opportunity for these lead persons to meet, network and share best practices.

Transparent reporting of SDG progress achieved by members also offers an important reflection of how members are prioritizing SDGs. Overall, within the next 12 months, 80% of signatories will be publicly reporting on their SDG progress, while it was reported that some 52% are already currently fulfilling this commitment. When asked if members had integrated their SDG commitment in their financial results or organizational strategy, 32% reported having done so, while some 36% indicated their plans to do this within the following 12 months.

Do you have a dedicated lead person to help drive your SDG progress within your organization?

25% 6.8% Yes No

68.2%

No, but we plan to in the next 12 months 9

Do you report your SDG commitment and progress (i.e., on your website, blog Corporate Responsibility report, General Assembly)?

44 responses

29.5%

18.2%

Yes

52.3%

No, this is not a priority No, but we plan to in the next 12 months

Do you report on your SDG commitment and progress as your annual finacial results or organizational strategy?

36.4% 31.8% Yes No, this is not a priority

31.8%

No, but we plan to in the next 12 months

5.3 Raise Awareness The second broad category of the SDG Publishers Compact outlines how signatories will raise awareness of their commitment and the Global Goals both towards their own staff, customers and/ or members. A vast majority of members, 97%, reported having either already communicated their commitment to the SDG Publishers Compact or were planning to do so within the next 12 months.

Furthermore, 90% of members reported displaying the SDG Publishers Compact logo on their website and/or in their communication materials. In terms of training provided to staff on SDGs/sustainability, 32% of members already reportedly did so, while some 33% indicating plans to do so within the next 12 months.

In 2022, we have also witnessed further support for the SDG Publishers Compact from international Book Fairs that have started to enable SDG Publishers Compact members to identify themselves in exhibitor directories and rights platforms. These developments do help members to communicate their commitment and serve as an encouragement to others to join the Compact.

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2.4%

Have you communicated your commitment as a signatory to the SDG Publishers Compact to your customers, and/or members?

20.9%

Yes No, this is not a priority

76.7%

No, but we plan to in the next 12 months

Do you provide or use any SDG training for staff or members?

32.6% 34.9% Yes

32.6%

No, this is not a priority No, but we plan to in the next 12 months

Do you display the SDG Publishers Compact logo on your website and/or communications materials?

9.1% 29.5%

Yes No

61.4%

No, but we plan to add this feature within the next 12 months 11

Using SDGs in the content published Publishers and the publishing sector arguably play an important role as catalysts for change within society through the content that is published and shared. The SDG Publishers Compact commitements also cover two areas where we encourage the SDGs to be used to help categorize and acquire content.

Some 69% of Members have reported that they are either currently or intending to use the SDGs in categorizing their content, for example in a catalogue or perhaps as a filter on their website, within the next 12 months, while around 20% stated that this was not a priority at the moment. In terms of acquiring content related to the SDGs, 53% of Members were either currently, or planning to do so within the next 12 months. Again, a slightly higher proportion of Members, representing some 34%, did not see SDG alignment in their acquisition strategy as a current priority.

Have you used the SDG framework to categorize your content?

37.2% 9.3% Yes No, this is not a priority

20.9% 32.6%

No, but we plan to in the next 12 months Not Applicable - not a publisher

Do you use the framework in your content acquisition strategy?

25.6% 11.6% Yes

34.9%

No, this is not a priority No, but we plan to in the next 12 months Not Applicable - not a publisher

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27.9%

5.4 Take action The final category of the SDG Publishers Compact revolves around the requirement for Members to take action. The commitments outline the need to prioritize at least one SDG, dedicate budget thereto and to collaborate. The majority of Members, representing 86%, reportedly already prioritized at least one SDG. Even more encouragingly, 68% of those have set specific objectives and targets. However, a small proportion, 14% reported having a dedicated budget for their SDG activities, while a majority of 72%, used funds and resources that were in existing budgets.

Have you prioritized one or more SDGs?

11.4% 2.2% Yes

86.4%

No, this is not a priority No, but we plan to in the next 12 months

Do you have a dedicated budgets for your SDG related activities?

14% 72.1% Yes

14%

No, it is intergrated into other budges No, but we plan to in the next 12 months

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Have you set any specific objective and targets in relation to your focus SDG(s)?

31.7%

Yes

68.2%

No

Do you collaborate with the other SDG publishers compact signatories in action groups or other industry

48.8%

51.2%

Yes No

Which areas would you like to have more collaboration with?

28.2%

20.5%

SDGs Webinars Collective meet-ups

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51.3%

Areas of focus In terms of which of the Global Goals the Publishers Compact Members were actually focusing on, the majority listed climate action (SDG 13) and Quality education (SDG4). We also witnessed a high number that focused on Goals related to diversity and Inclusion (SDG 5 Gender Equality and SDG 10 Reducing Inequalities) as well as SDG 12: Responsible Consumption.

Please select your priority SDGs (multiple allowed) 43 responses

1 No poverty

7 (16.3%)

2 Zero hunger

8 (18.6%)

3 Good health and well-being

11 (25.6%)

4 Quality education

24 (55.8%)

5 Gender equality

18 (41.9%)

6 Clean water and sanitation

11 (25.6%)

7 Affordable and clean energy

7 (16.3%)

8 Decent work and economic growth

11 (25.6%)

9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure

11 (25.6%)

10 Reduced inequalities

19 (44.2%)

11 Sustainable cities and communities

10 (23.3%)

12 Responsible consumption and production

17 (39.5%)

13 Climate action

29 (67.4%)

14 Life below water

4 (9.3%)

15 Life on land

7 (16.3%)

16 Peace, justice and strong institutions

8 (18.6%)

17 Partnerships for the goals

14 (32.6%)

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10

20

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Published: October 2023 Version 1.0