Czech Republic at the UN: A Decade of the 2030 Agenda, new commitments, and Czech stories
7/16/2025
At the United Nations headquarters in New York, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is currently underway. Among other things, Member States are assessing their progress toward fulfilling the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Czech Republic, and its voluntary review, is represented here by the Association of Social Responsibility (A‑CSR), the largest initiative of its kind in the country, which brings the voices of Czech organizations into the global debate.
“The official presentation of the Czech Republic at the UN’s HLPF in New York, and our active participation, shows that the 2030 Agenda is not the government’s domain alone. Czech business has much to offer: experience, innovation, and tangible results,” says Lucie Mádlová, founder and director of the Association of Social Responsibility and a member of the Czech delegation. She points in particular to the most recent Ipsos survey of A‑CSR members, conducted for this occasion, with results to be published in the autumn.
Although legislative requirements in the fields of ESG and sustainability have been easing in recent months, this does not change how business operates—in fact, quite the opposite. “We already see from the survey that 97 % of our member companies view sustainability as an opportunity for innovation and new business models. Moreover, 74 % confirm that their sustainable activities have improved their brand’s reputation, and 72 % say that implementing sustainable measures has helped them secure new business opportunities,” Mádlová explains. At the same time, almost 80 % of firms expect the emphasis on sustainability within their organizations to increase further over the next year.
For organizations to generally have the opportunity to develop sustainable activities, they need a stable and supportive international environment. This is precisely what this year’s HLPF helps to provide, as countries share their progress through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). The Czech Republic has made significant advances on ten SDGs, such as climate action, affordable and clean energy, improved access to healthcare, and quality education. On six SDGs, however, no change has yet occurred. In addition to the written review, this progress is summarized in a video featuring President Petr Pavel.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. That is why the HLPF is an opportunity not only for reflection and renewed commitments but also for identifying concrete steps to accelerate progress on sustainable development. One issue that resonates strongly in the Czech context is gender equality. “According to the review, the gender pay gap stands at 18 % against women, which is well above the EU average. Inequalities also persist more broadly in public office,” Mádlová points out.
For this reason, she will take part in the accompanying event “Empowered Women, Inclusive Economies: Catalyzing Sustainable Futures at the HLPF 2025.” “We want to show that despite these inequalities, the Czech Republic has company, and community-backed stories worthy of sharing on the global stage, and that women play a key role in them,” Mádlová concludes.
Photo credit: AdobeStock photo bank, archive of Lucie Mádlová
