For thirty years now, I have dealt with sustainable development, ever since the idea was introduced in the Brundtland Report, published in 1987. The concept of sustainable development focused the world’s attention on finding strategies to promote economic and social advancement in ways that fights climate change, environmental degradation, over-exploitation and pollution.
With the UN's adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (the SDG’s), sustainable development has been much more precisely defined, made operational and measurable.
Together with the SDG Compass, the society now have the tools and know-how to make the SDG’s a key element in sustainability strategies on all levels, from governments to private companies and the individual human being.
LEIF SØNDERBERG
SDG Consultant, MSc
Vierdiget 922
DK 2791 Dragoer
Denmark
Phone + 45 51 86 00 42
Making the Global Goals a Reality
Leif Soenderberg provides research-based advisory services and capacity building within integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in education and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME). My advisory services range from choice of goals to policy advice and implementation in business plans and Start Ups. I provide state-of-the-art and timely services in close dialogue with my clients.
Innovation and startups thrive best in headwind
The UN's Global Goals for Sustainable Development were a response to the resource and climate crisis, and they are a good starting point for innovation that contributes to the sustainable society of the future.
Another good starting point for accelerating sustainable innovation right now is the corona crisis. It offers great opportunities, as many parts of society need a restart after the crisis, and that restart may just as well be sustainable. Crises has always been a lever for innovation. Crises shake up traditions and habits and create the basis for new thoughts, ideas and working methods, and we must take advantage of that.
Read more in my presentations to the
SDU Talent Programme in Entrepreneurship
PART 2 (to follow)
GOAL:SUSTAIN works with education, implementation, evaluation, reporting and communication of the SDG's. Sustainable development was originally introduced by Gro Harlem Brundtland in “Our Common Future in 1987”:
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
Download the Brundtland report from UN Documents website
I have founded GOAL:SUSTAIN to educate, promote and implement the SDG’s in the educational sector and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s). Big companies now typically have their own “Sustainability Director”, but small and medium-sized enterprises in most cases do not have resources for that.
The private sector is lever for innovation, growth and better competitive performance. The SDGs make up a powerful framework for strengthening the companies’ purpose narrative and for attracting talents, customers and investors.
It is crucial to get behind greenwashing and offer the companies guidance and methods to develop their products, services and business models to address the SDGs. In addition, my experience in education, communication science and strategies can be used by the companies in communicating and engaging their employees in the work with the SDGs through internal campaigns and activities. Furthermore, I assist with communicating the company’s SDG strategies to suppliers, customers and other stakeholders.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Leif Sønderberg Petersen
Nationality: Danish
Profession: MSc, Energy and Environmental Journalist
Position: SDG Adviser, GOAL:SUSTAIN
Education: Masters’ degree in Natural Science from University of Copenhagen, 1976.
Thesis in Natural Science Didactics, Aarhus University, Department of Education
(DPU), 1976.
EXPERIENCE
Present: SDG Adviser, GOAL:SUSTAIN
2016 - 2017:
Senior Executive Sustainable Energy Officer, DTU Office for Innovation and
Sector Services
2012 - 2017:
Secretary-General, World Energy Council – Denmark
2012 - 2016:
Senior Executive Officer, international outreach and communication, DTU National
Laboratory for Sustainable Energy
2005 – 2011: Chief Consultant, international outreach and communication, Risø National
Laboratory for Sustainable Energy
1988 – 2005:
Head of Communication, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy
1986 – 1988:
Head of Communication Department, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration
1981 – 1986:
Communication officer, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration
1980 - 1981:
Secretary, the Danish Public Organisation for Sustainable Energy
1977 – 1980:
Postgraduate fellow, Aarhus University, Department of Education (DPU). (Development of teaching resources in the biogeochemical carbon cycle and
environmental chemistry)
1970 – 1977:
Teacher, Danish School of Education and Jonstrup college of education
AREAS OF WORK
Project management within
- sustainability;
- graphic design;
- web development;
- exhibitions;
- performance design;
- campaigns;
- international seminars & conferences;
- education & continued education;
- media production;
- photo journalism;
- Editorial tasks
Journalism
Text analysis
Corporate identity
Communication science
Editor of the DTU International Energy report series
Organizer of DTU International Energy conferences
Co-organizer of DTU Sustain conferences
POSITIONS OF TRUST
Secretary-General, World Energy Council, Danish National Committee (2011 - 2017)
Reviewer, several IPCC Reports
External examiner in communication science, Roskilde University and University of Copenhagen
Member of the Board, Danish Science Journalist’s Association (1995 – 1998)
Member of the Board, European Union of Science Journalists' Associations (1995
– 1998)