Green
UN Sustainable Development Goals: How Companies Stack Up
The UN SDGs: How Companies Stack Up
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing witnessed a breakthrough year in 2020 with the most fund inflows on record.
Importantly, for companies that are judged according to ESG metrics, one way to track their progress is through their alignment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Established in 2012, the UN SDGs are a blueprint for creating a more sustainable future by 2030 that have been adopted by 193 countries worldwide.
As investors and stakeholders pay closer attention to sustainability concerns, this graphic from MSCI breaks down how companies stack up according to their alignment to the UN SDGs.
How Were Companies Measured?
To track companies net contribution to the UN SDGs, companies were scored by their positive or negative contribution to each of the 17 goals.
The 17 UN SDGs are designed to achieve three primary objectives by 2030:
- Protect the planet
- End poverty
- Create prosperity and peace for all
Specifically, the framework centers on a discussion paper that was developed in partnership with the OECD in 2018. Company policies, operations, products and services, and practices are analyzed according to reported and publicly available information.
Tracking the Alignment of Companies
Across a universe of 8,550 companies in the MSCI All Country World Index, constituents were measured from strongly aligned to strongly misaligned to the UN SDGs.
Sustainable Development Goal | Strongly Aligned | Aligned | Misaligned | Strongly Misaligned |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | No Poverty | 0 | 892 | 155 | 32 |
2 | Zero Hunger | 24 | 234 | 30 | 0 |
3 | Good Health and Well-being | 0 | 315 | 141 | 29 |
4 | Quality Education | 8 | 31 | 52 | 0 |
5 | Gender Equality | 0 | 1092 | 9 | 0 |
6 | Clean Water and Sanitation | 17 | 325 | 36 | 10 |
7 | Affordable and Clean Energy | 43 | 639 | 109 | 587 |
8 | Decent Work and Economic Growth | 25 | 1269 | 52 | 17 |
9 | Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 68 | 844 | 137 | 9 |
10 | Reduced Inequality | 0 | 828 | 127 | 31 |
11 | Sustainable Cities and Communities | 0 | 0 | 167 | 19 |
12 | Responsible Consumption and Production | 115 | 855 | 150 | 598 |
13 | Climate Action | 27 | 594 | 95 | 587 |
14 | Life Below Water | 0 | 36 | 151 | 92 |
15 | Life on Land | 0 | 0 | 128 | 17 |
16 | Peace and Justice Strong Institutions | 0 | 135 | 241 | 27 |
17 | Partnerships to Achieve the Goal | 0 | 401 | 152 | 22 |
Source: MSCI ESG Research LLC as of August 11, 2020
Broadly speaking, companies fell mostly in the middle—roughly 38% were aligned while almost 55% were misaligned or neutral. Meanwhile, just 0.2% of companies were strongly aligned to the UN SDGs.
Overall, one of the most strongly aligned goals was Responsible Production and Consumption, with 115 companies meeting this criteria. Specifically, these include companies that are building sustainable infrastructure, energy efficiency, or creating green jobs.
Interestingly, the worst performing goal was also Responsible Production and Consumption, with over five times as many companies (598) strongly misaligned. Along with this goal, both Climate Action and Affordable and Clean Energy each had over 500 companies strongly misaligned.
UN SDGs: A Sector Focus
Unsurprisingly, SDG-alignment varied widely according to company sectors.
Educational companies, for instance, represented the highest level of alignment to Gender Equality. Meanwhile, 18% of 425 utilities companies assessed ended up aligning with Clean and Affordable Energy goals.
As one would expect, the energy sector lagged behind. In 2020, fossil fuels were a key source of revenue for 91% of the companies in the energy business. In fact, just three companies derived over 50% of their revenues from green alternatives: REX American Resources, Renewable Energy Group, and Verbio.
A Call to Action?
Despite the growing wave of interest in ESG investing, the reality is that progress to meet the UN SDGs has been slower going than expected.
However, a greater number of individuals, stakeholders, and activists are sounding the alarm. Today, over 3,000 signatories representing trillions in assets under management have committed to the UN Principles of Responsible Investment, which has established six key actions for ESG investing. Now, many companies are required to report their ESG disclosures in Europe.
Along with these key markers of progress, investors can move the dial by tracking a company’s alignment to sustainable development goals.
Water
Tracking Antarctica Sea Ice Loss in 2023
Antarctica’s ice extent has reached record lows. This visual details and maps Antarctica sea ice loss over the last two years.

Tracking Antarctica Sea Ice Loss in 2023
Scientists have been tracking the extent and concentrations of Antarctica’s sea ice for decades, and the last two years have raised global alarm bells.
As temperatures are breaking records around the world, the southernmost continent’s ice sheet is visibly smaller than it has been in decades past.
The above graphic uses tracking data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) to visualize sea ice extent in Antarctica as of August 2023
How Much Ice Has Antarctica Lost?
According to satellite data tracked by the NSIDC, sea ice extent in Antarctica has shrunk to record lows.
When compared to previously charted data dating back to 1979, daily record lows in sea ice extent have been recorded for every day in 2023 so far.
Here is how daily Antarctic sea ice extent in 2023 compares to 2022 (which had many of the previous record lows), and the median from 1981 to 2010.
Date | 2023 (km²) | 2022 (km²) | Median (1981‒2010, km²) |
---|---|---|---|
Aug 24 | 15.87M | 17.29M | 17.94M |
Aug 23 | 15.79M | 17.24M | 17.91M |
Aug 22 | 15.74M | 17.21M | 17.89M |
Aug 21 | 15.69M | 17.19M | 17.87M |
Aug 20 | 15.64M | 17.14M | 17.84M |
Aug 19 | 15.55M | 17.11M | 17.82M |
Aug 18 | 15.45M | 17.06M | 17.79M |
Aug 17 | 15.34M | 16.99M | 17.73M |
Aug 16 | 15.22M | 16.93M | 17.68M |
Aug 15 | 15.12M | 16.88M | 17.63M |
Aug 14 | 15.07M | 16.84M | 17.60M |
Aug 13 | 15.04M | 16.81M | 17.56M |
Aug 12 | 15.02M | 16.78M | 17.54M |
Aug 11 | 15.00M | 16.76M | 17.50M |
Aug 10 | 14.98M | 16.75M | 17.45M |
Aug 09 | 14.96M | 16.73M | 17.39M |
Aug 08 | 14.95M | 16.70M | 17.34M |
Aug 07 | 14.92M | 16.64M | 17.27M |
Aug 06 | 14.88M | 16.57M | 17.21M |
Aug 05 | 14.86M | 16.46M | 17.15M |
Aug 04 | 14.82M | 16.35M | 17.10M |
Aug 03 | 14.78M | 16.22M | 17.05M |
Aug 02 | 14.75M | 16.11M | 17.01M |
Aug 01 | 14.69M | 15.99M | 16.96M |
Jul 31 | 14.62M | 15.87M | 16.92M |
Jul 30 | 14.55M | 15.76M | 16.86M |
Jul 29 | 14.47M | 15.68M | 16.79M |
Jul 28 | 14.38M | 15.62M | 16.71M |
Jul 27 | 14.29M | 15.59M | 16.63M |
Jul 26 | 14.21M | 15.57M | 16.56M |
Jul 25 | 14.16M | 15.56M | 16.49M |
Jul 24 | 14.10M | 15.53M | 16.41M |
Jul 23 | 14.03M | 15.50M | 16.33M |
Jul 22 | 13.97M | 15.43M | 16.24M |
Jul 21 | 13.91M | 15.35M | 16.16M |
Jul 20 | 13.82M | 15.25M | 16.08M |
Jul 19 | 13.70M | 15.14M | 16.00M |
Jul 18 | 13.58M | 15.03M | 15.94M |
Jul 17 | 13.45M | 14.93M | 15.88M |
Jul 16 | 13.31M | 14.84M | 15.80M |
Jul 15 | 13.17M | 14.78M | 15.71M |
Jul 14 | 13.07M | 14.72M | 15.62M |
Jul 13 | 12.98M | 14.64M | 15.54M |
Jul 12 | 12.88M | 14.57M | 15.46M |
Jul 11 | 12.77M | 14.47M | 15.39M |
Jul 10 | 12.65M | 14.37M | 15.32M |
Jul 09 | 12.54M | 14.28M | 15.25M |
Jul 08 | 12.43M | 14.19M | 15.19M |
Jul 07 | 12.36M | 14.12M | 15.12M |
Jul 06 | 12.32M | 14.06M | 15.05M |
Jul 05 | 12.31M | 13.98M | 14.98M |
Jul 04 | 12.28M | 13.89M | 14.91M |
Jul 03 | 12.22M | 13.79M | 14.82M |
Jul 02 | 12.14M | 13.68M | 14.73M |
Jul 01 | 12.06M | 13.58M | 14.64M |
Jun 30 | 11.96M | 13.46M | 14.54M |
Jun 29 | 11.87M | 13.33M | 14.45M |
Jun 28 | 11.81M | 13.19M | 14.36M |
Jun 27 | 11.75M | 13.06M | 14.26M |
Jun 26 | 11.68M | 12.92M | 14.17M |
Jun 25 | 11.61M | 12.81M | 14.07M |
Jun 24 | 11.53M | 12.73M | 13.98M |
Jun 23 | 11.46M | 12.67M | 13.88M |
Jun 22 | 11.39M | 12.61M | 13.79M |
Jun 21 | 11.31M | 12.56M | 13.69M |
Jun 20 | 11.21M | 12.50M | 13.59M |
Jun 19 | 11.10M | 12.41M | 13.48M |
Jun 18 | 11.02M | 12.32M | 13.37M |
Jun 17 | 10.92M | 12.22M | 13.26M |
Jun 16 | 10.84M | 12.11M | 13.17M |
Jun 15 | 10.78M | 12.02M | 13.08M |
Jun 14 | 10.73M | 11.92M | 12.98M |
Jun 13 | 10.66M | 11.81M | 12.89M |
Jun 12 | 10.61M | 11.72M | 12.81M |
Jun 11 | 10.54M | 11.62M | 12.72M |
Jun 10 | 10.46M | 11.53M | 12.61M |
Jun 09 | 10.39M | 11.45M | 12.48M |
Jun 08 | 10.33M | 11.36M | 12.36M |
Jun 07 | 10.26M | 11.26M | 12.25M |
Jun 06 | 10.18M | 11.15M | 12.13M |
Jun 05 | 10.09M | 11.00M | 12.02M |
Jun 04 | 9.99M | 10.87M | 11.93M |
Jun 03 | 9.87M | 10.74M | 11.84M |
Jun 02 | 9.75M | 10.64M | 11.74M |
Jun 01 | 9.64M | 10.58M | 11.65M |
May 31 | 9.53M | 10.54M | 11.56M |
May 30 | 9.43M | 10.49M | 11.47M |
May 29 | 9.36M | 10.43M | 11.37M |
May 28 | 9.30M | 10.35M | 11.27M |
May 27 | 9.23M | 10.27M | 11.17M |
May 26 | 9.16M | 10.20M | 11.08M |
May 25 | 9.09M | 10.14M | 10.99M |
May 24 | 8.98M | 10.07M | 10.89M |
May 23 | 8.86M | 10.01M | 10.79M |
May 22 | 8.73M | 9.94M | 10.68M |
May 21 | 8.61M | 9.85M | 10.57M |
May 20 | 8.52M | 9.76M | 10.45M |
May 19 | 8.43M | 9.66M | 10.33M |
May 18 | 8.36M | 9.56M | 10.24M |
May 17 | 8.30M | 9.46M | 10.14M |
May 16 | 8.25M | 9.34M | 10.03M |
May 15 | 8.16M | 9.20M | 9.92M |
May 14 | 8.06M | 9.09M | 9.82M |
May 13 | 7.96M | 8.99M | 9.69M |
May 12 | 7.85M | 8.88M | 9.58M |
May 11 | 7.72M | 8.77M | 9.46M |
May 10 | 7.61M | 8.67M | 9.35M |
May 09 | 7.50M | 8.55M | 9.23M |
May 08 | 7.39M | 8.40M | 9.12M |
May 07 | 7.28M | 8.26M | 9.00M |
May 06 | 7.17M | 8.13M | 8.88M |
May 05 | 7.06M | 8.02M | 8.77M |
May 04 | 6.96M | 7.91M | 8.65M |
May 03 | 6.86M | 7.80M | 8.52M |
May 02 | 6.77M | 7.69M | 8.41M |
May 01 | 6.66M | 7.59M | 8.29M |
Apr 30 | 6.56M | 7.48M | 8.17M |
Apr 29 | 6.48M | 7.35M | 8.06M |
Apr 28 | 6.38M | 7.24M | 7.95M |
Apr 27 | 6.28M | 7.12M | 7.83M |
Apr 26 | 6.19M | 7.00M | 7.71M |
Apr 25 | 6.09M | 6.86M | 7.59M |
Apr 24 | 5.98M | 6.74M | 7.48M |
Apr 23 | 5.89M | 6.62M | 7.37M |
Apr 22 | 5.80M | 6.50M | 7.27M |
Apr 21 | 5.71M | 6.39M | 7.18M |
Apr 20 | 5.64M | 6.27M | 7.09M |
Apr 19 | 5.59M | 6.15M | 6.99M |
Apr 18 | 5.52M | 6.00M | 6.88M |
Apr 17 | 5.45M | 5.86M | 6.78M |
Apr 16 | 5.38M | 5.73M | 6.66M |
Apr 15 | 5.30M | 5.59M | 6.55M |
Apr 14 | 5.19M | 5.46M | 6.43M |
Apr 13 | 5.10M | 5.33M | 6.31M |
Apr 12 | 5.02M | 5.20M | 6.18M |
Apr 11 | 4.94M | 5.09M | 6.06M |
Apr 10 | 4.86M | 4.97M | 5.93M |
Apr 09 | 4.79M | 4.86M | 5.81M |
Apr 08 | 4.71M | 4.77M | 5.71M |
Apr 07 | 4.63M | 4.68M | 5.62M |
Apr 06 | 4.54M | 4.61M | 5.53M |
Apr 05 | 4.46M | 4.52M | 5.44M |
Apr 04 | 4.37M | 4.42M | 5.35M |
Apr 03 | 4.26M | 4.31M | 5.27M |
Apr 02 | 4.16M | 4.20M | 5.18M |
Apr 01 | 4.04M | 4.06M | 5.11M |
Mar 31 | 3.93M | 3.93M | 5.04M |
Mar 30 | 3.86M | 3.81M | 4.97M |
Mar 29 | 3.77M | 3.68M | 4.89M |
Mar 28 | 3.68M | 3.54M | 4.81M |
Mar 27 | 3.57M | 3.40M | 4.72M |
Mar 26 | 3.44M | 3.28M | 4.63M |
Mar 25 | 3.28M | 3.20M | 4.54M |
Mar 24 | 3.14M | 3.12M | 4.46M |
Mar 23 | 3.02M | 3.06M | 4.37M |
Mar 22 | 2.92M | 3.01M | 4.28M |
Mar 21 | 2.84M | 2.95M | 4.20M |
Mar 20 | 2.78M | 2.88M | 4.12M |
Mar 19 | 2.72M | 2.81M | 4.03M |
Mar 18 | 2.66M | 2.74M | 3.95M |
Mar 17 | 2.61M | 2.68M | 3.88M |
Mar 16 | 2.55M | 2.62M | 3.80M |
Mar 15 | 2.49M | 2.57M | 3.73M |
Mar 14 | 2.44M | 2.52M | 3.65M |
Mar 13 | 2.40M | 2.48M | 3.59M |
Mar 12 | 2.34M | 2.43M | 3.51M |
Mar 11 | 2.27M | 2.39M | 3.44M |
Mar 10 | 2.21M | 2.34M | 3.37M |
Mar 09 | 2.13M | 2.29M | 3.31M |
Mar 08 | 2.04M | 2.24M | 3.25M |
Mar 07 | 1.97M | 2.19M | 3.20M |
Mar 06 | 1.93M | 2.15M | 3.16M |
Mar 05 | 1.91M | 2.11M | 3.12M |
Mar 04 | 1.89M | 2.07M | 3.07M |
Mar 03 | 1.88M | 2.03M | 3.02M |
Mar 02 | 1.87M | 2.01M | 2.98M |
Mar 01 | 1.85M | 1.99M | 2.94M |
Feb 28 | 1.83M | 1.98M | 2.89M |
Feb 27 | 1.83M | 1.98M | 2.86M |
Feb 26 | 1.82M | 1.98M | 2.83M |
Feb 25 | 1.82M | 1.98M | 2.81M |
Feb 24 | 1.81M | 1.98M | 2.81M |
Feb 23 | 1.80M | 1.99M | 2.81M |
Feb 22 | 1.79M | 1.99M | 2.81M |
Feb 21 | 1.79M | 2.02M | 2.81M |
Feb 20 | 1.81M | 2.03M | 2.82M |
Feb 19 | 1.82M | 2.05M | 2.82M |
Feb 18 | 1.85M | 2.08M | 2.84M |
Feb 17 | 1.86M | 2.11M | 2.86M |
Feb 16 | 1.88M | 2.14M | 2.89M |
Feb 15 | 1.88M | 2.18M | 2.93M |
Feb 14 | 1.89M | 2.22M | 2.97M |
Feb 13 | 1.91M | 2.24M | 3.02M |
Feb 12 | 1.93M | 2.26M | 3.06M |
Feb 11 | 1.96M | 2.31M | 3.10M |
Feb 10 | 1.98M | 2.35M | 3.15M |
Feb 09 | 2.01M | 2.41M | 3.20M |
Feb 08 | 2.03M | 2.47M | 3.25M |
Feb 07 | 2.06M | 2.54M | 3.30M |
Feb 06 | 2.09M | 2.60M | 3.36M |
Feb 05 | 2.12M | 2.66M | 3.41M |
Feb 04 | 2.16M | 2.71M | 3.47M |
Feb 03 | 2.19M | 2.77M | 3.52M |
Feb 02 | 2.23M | 2.82M | 3.57M |
Feb 01 | 2.26M | 2.86M | 3.63M |
Jan 31 | 2.30M | 2.89M | 3.68M |
Jan 30 | 2.35M | 2.94M | 3.73M |
Jan 29 | 2.42M | 2.99M | 3.78M |
Jan 28 | 2.48M | 3.04M | 3.84M |
Jan 27 | 2.56M | 3.11M | 3.89M |
Jan 26 | 2.65M | 3.19M | 3.96M |
Jan 25 | 2.71M | 3.26M | 4.04M |
Jan 24 | 2.78M | 3.34M | 4.12M |
Jan 23 | 2.85M | 3.41M | 4.18M |
Jan 22 | 2.90M | 3.48M | 4.26M |
Jan 21 | 2.96M | 3.57M | 4.34M |
Jan 20 | 3.02M | 3.66M | 4.42M |
Jan 19 | 3.09M | 3.75M | 4.51M |
Jan 18 | 3.17M | 3.87M | 4.62M |
Jan 17 | 3.24M | 3.96M | 4.73M |
Jan 16 | 3.32M | 4.05M | 4.87M |
Jan 15 | 3.39M | 4.13M | 5.01M |
Jan 14 | 3.45M | 4.20M | 5.14M |
Jan 13 | 3.51M | 4.27M | 5.27M |
Jan 12 | 3.59M | 4.38M | 5.41M |
Jan 11 | 3.67M | 4.49M | 5.54M |
Jan 10 | 3.76M | 4.59M | 5.69M |
Jan 09 | 3.86M | 4.70M | 5.85M |
Jan 08 | 3.97M | 4.83M | 6.02M |
Jan 07 | 4.09M | 4.95M | 6.18M |
Jan 06 | 4.22M | 5.09M | 6.34M |
Jan 05 | 4.35M | 5.27M | 6.51M |
Jan 04 | 4.49M | 5.45M | 6.67M |
Jan 03 | 4.64M | 5.62M | 6.84M |
Jan 02 | 4.79M | 5.82M | 7.01M |
Jan 01 | 5.00M | 6.02M | 7.19M |
Antarctica’s sea ice extent on August 24, 2023 was 1.42 million square kilometers smaller than the year before. When compared to the median extent for that date from 1980 to 2010, it was 2.07 million square kilometers smaller.
Keep in mind that July and August are the coldest months in Antarctica. Its position on the South Pole gives it a very long winter ranging from the end of February to the end of September, with ice building up before melting temperatures arrive in October.
Antarctica Sea Ice and the Rest of the World
Even though the continent is thousands of kilometers from most of Earth’s land and populace, its ice has an important impact on the rest of the planet.
Antarctica’s large ice sheet is able to reflect a lot of sunlight in sunnier months, reducing the amount absorbed by the ocean. The wider its extent builds up over the winter, the more sunlight and heat it is able to reflect.
It’s also important to consider that this ice comes from a regular pattern of freezing and melting ocean water. The more ice is lost to the oceans compared to what accumulates in a given year, the higher sea levels rise around the world.
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