b'DIVERSITY & INCLUSIONThe Big Blend responsibility standpoint, rather than one highlighting diversity and inclusion, although they could have worked on both at the same time.CLEAR SHIFTWhy we need to blend DEI and CSR/ESG In the past five or six years, however, there has been a perceptible shift. efforts for a more open, inclusive andBusinesses have started to improve internal policies and engage their internal prosperous future for all stakeholders in Indigenous, gender, race By Luis Augusto Nobre and 2SLGBTQIA+. Yet while businesses today understand that DEI helps their reputation and W hen we observe the historyobjectives outlined in its 2030 Agenda forbottom line, there are those that still of human rights, we shouldSustainable Development.dont consider it as important as their look beyond the UniversalESG initiatives. Were seeing massive Declaration of Human Rights establishedBIG DIFFERENCE investments being made in external social by the United Nations in 1948. Today,One of the main differences betweeninclusion projects and environmental the concept of human rights can bethe MDGs and the SDGs was thatprotection, but were still just learning to extended to include the push for diversity,accountability was now extended towalk when it comes to DEI. Businesses equity and inclusion (DEI), and it can beall social players and not restrictedarent always appropriating the best contextually connected to discussionsto governments, corporations orpractices and learned lessons in this area. surrounding the environment,organizations. Given the rise of socialDEI departments and organizations sustainability and social responsibility.inequity, climate change and overallcould possibly have a stronger voice and Theyre all interconnected. Lets look economic hardship, the world neededmore investment if our initiatives were at a bit of history to understand themore commitment at an individual level.noticeably connected to the UNs SDGs, or common undercurrents. As a result, there was a stronger focus onif we had the direct support of CSR/ESG Following the 1948 UN Declaration,external stakeholder engagement. departments. Then again, it could be there it was only in the 1990s that variousSoon the concept of diversity, equityis a lack of investment because we are other global initiatives really startedand inclusion (DEI) began to make its waystill fighting for basic issues like gender-gaining ground. This included the UNsinto this renewed push for more corporateneutral washroom access.Millennium Declaration, which addressedsocial responsibility, but everything wasStakeholders working in efforts tied challenges tied to poverty with an aimstill in its early stages. Certainly, it wasntto DEI, CSR and ESG continue to work of reducing extreme poverty by 2015.given the weight were seeing today, atseparately, even though we share similar The ambitious plan, approved in 2000,least not in terms of gender, race andgoals. We couldand shouldlearn from outlined eight Millennium Development2SLGBTQIA+ concerns.each other and exchange best practices to Goals (MDGs) that included everythingInitial discussions to promote DEIimprove processes and procedures. from halving extreme poverty rates towere limited to gender equity in theThe takeaway from this is that by stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS andworkplace (i.e., equal pay for women)combining DEI and CSR/ESG efforts we providing universal primary education.and benefit policies (i.e., recognizingwould create better opportunities and Professionals working in corporatethe benefit extension of 2SLGBTQIA+working environments for 2SLGBTQIA+ social responsibility (CSR) tried toprofessionals to their families). There wascommunities and their intersections. All incorporate these MDGs into their agendaa fair amount of corporate greenwashing,marginalized communities could benefit where possible. The eight goals guidedand businesses were still exhibiting afrom collective collaboration. the CSR agenda for years, even beforestronger drive to build their sustainabilityThats why CSR/ESG and DEI need to companies and organizations startedreputation and focus on sustainablework together. We share the same goals, using the more modern-day nomenclaturedevelopment initiatives and and together we can get much further in of environmental, social and governancesocial investments. our journey toward a more inclusive and (ESG). It was easier for CSR professionals tosustainable world.Unfortunately, the MDGs didntsponsor external social projects than toLuis Augusto Nobreis a marketing andachieve their objective by their statedfocus on internal initiatives that engagedcommunications coordinator at Pride at Work deadline, and in 2015 they were replacedtheir own employees in DEI projects.Canada/Fiert au travail Canada. For moreby the UNs Sustainable DevelopmentThey had a better understanding ofinformation on the organization and its work,Goals (SDGs)a set of 17 new, amplifiedreturn on investment (ROI) from a socialvisit https://prideatwork.ca/28| QBiz CANADA | Issue 2 2021'