Private capital “is likely to be critical” in helping the United Nations (UN) achieve its sustainable development goals (SDGs) of zero hunger; quality education; health; affordable, clean energy; sustainable industry, innovation, and infrastructure; and climate action in the years ahead, according to a new white paper from Switzerland-based banking giant UBS AG.
However, the UBS white paper, which was issued at at the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on Monday, says that initiatives to address these issues often overlook private capital.
UBS’s white paper point out that private wealth investment tends to be longer-term, which aligns with the SDGs, and it has fewer regulatory and other constraints than institutional capital. The paper makes several recommendations designed to help bring more private investment on board.
“The SDGs present a critical opportunity to promote sustainable growth for all,” says Sergio Ermotti, group CEO with UBS and chairman of the UBS Optimus Foundation, in a statement. “We encourage policymakers to follow our recommendations to engage private capital investment in the SDGs. We also urge potential partners to work alongside our new and existing initiatives to build solutions to meet these vital goals.”
Among other commitments, UBS says it will help launch Align17, a philanthropy and investment platform focused on SDG funding gaps.
“Policymakers and other stakeholders must tackle the dearth of information around SDG funding needs and eliminate shortfalls in incentivizing private investment,” adds Mark Haefele, global chief investment officer with UBS’s wealth-management division, in a statement. “Our new initiatives are designed to address these gaps and help make the world a more sustainable place.”