The world is more than halfway towards achieving the United Nation’s (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Unfortunately, progress is not where it should be. Only 12 percent of the targets for which data exist are on track, with almost half off-track and more than one-third either stagnating or regressing from the 2015 baseline.
With the hottest summer on record and ongoing environmental degradation, it is clear that governments need to collaborate more effectively to make progress on the SDGs. UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasized the need for dialogue and cooperation to address global challenges, such as the climate crisis and inequality.
However, achieving cooperation seems difficult in the current geopolitical climate. Geopolitical competition and conflict are on the rise, posing a significant risk to the global economy. The UN reported that 2020 had the highest number of violent conflicts since World War II.
Despite these challenges, there is a way to make progress on the SDGs. The private sector offers a recipe for effective cooperation amidst intense competition. Examples of competitors collaborating can be found in various industries, such as beverage companies working together to address the challenge of plastic bottles.
In 2015, Coke, Dr Pepper, and Pepsi—rivals in the beverage industry—pledged to source a quarter of their plastic packaging from recycled materials by 2025. This type of cooperation among competitors is not unique, with companies like Airbus and Boeing aligning to create new markets for green technology.
This practice, known as “coopetition,” is an integral part of corporate strategy. Companies like DHL and United Parcel Service have collaborated in delivering packages in the United States despite competing for customers. In the tech sector, Apple and Samsung have also cooperated, with Apple purchasing screens from Samsung and Samsung offering iTunes on its devices.
If companies can make “coopetition” work, countries can do the same—even geopolitical competitors. The recent return of China and the United States to climate talks is a promising sign of “coopetition” gaining strength. Both countries expressed their commitment to collaborate on climate action despite other disagreements. However, this “coopetition” still needs more stability.
What makes “coopetition” attractive is that it allows for cooperation while maintaining competition in market share or geopolitical interests. The private sector has shown that competition leads to innovation, lower prices, and improved public goods. For example, solar energy prices have significantly decreased due to competition among companies to produce cheaper panels, alongside government policies and incentives.
“Coopetition” should be part of every leader’s playbook, whether they are CEOs or public officials. The benefits of “coopetition” for companies and customers are clear, and now it’s time for governments to demonstrate how it benefits countries and citizens. The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network
The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a member of the Asia News Network, an alliance of 22 media titles in the region.
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
