We would like to begin by expressing our sincere appreciation to all those who joined us at the event “Agenda 2030 – Past or Future?”, held on March 20 at CATÓLICA-LISBON. Your presence made this a truly remarkable occasion, and we are especially pleased to have welcomed a full auditorium, reflecting the growing relevance and urgency of this discussion.
With the contribution of all participants, this event marked an important milestone for the Observatory of the SDGs in Portuguese Companies and for advancing the debate on sustainability and the 2030 Agenda in Portugal. We also take this opportunity to highlight our upcoming initiative: the executive course Sustainable Business Strategy, starting on April 21.
In the opening session, the Rector, Professor Isabel Capeloa Gil, emphasized the commitment of Universidade Católica Portuguesa to sustainability as a strategic priority for the coming years. She also highlighted the role of the Observatory as a platform that brings together companies, academia, and civil society, bridging knowledge and its practical application in business contexts.
José Pena do Amaral, representing BPI and the “la Caixa” Foundation, founding partner and key supporter of the Observatory since its inception, reinforced the importance of deep knowledge of the Portuguese business landscape and close collaboration with companies, particularly SMEs, where significant potential for acceleration exists.
A video message from Paul Polman delivered a clear and compelling perspective on the role of business in today’s critical moment. While recognizing the progress made by Portuguese companies, he stressed that sustainability is now a test of credibility and a central driver of competitiveness and resilience in an increasingly volatile global context.
The Observatory team then presented an overview of the SDGs at global, European, and national levels, highlighting the gap between ambition and progress, and the urgent need to accelerate action. While companies have made significant strides in integrating sustainability, the key challenge now lies in operationalizing the SDGs into concrete practices, metrics, and decision-making systems.
Before the coffee break, Wim Vermeulen offered a pragmatic and critical reflection on sustainability, emphasizing the need to reconnect it with real value creation and core business strategy. This was followed by a conversation with Professor Filipe Santos, Dean of CATÓLICA-LISBON, exploring Europe’s position and future outlook.
In the second part of the event, Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of UNOPS, shared insights on the current state of the sustainable development agenda, stressing the gap between commitments and implementation, and calling for stronger alignment between public and private strategies.
Filipa Pires de Almeida, Executive Director of CRBL, officially launched the second cycle of the Observatory (2026–2029), reinforcing its ambition to accelerate SDG implementation and contribute to shaping the post-2030 agenda.
The event concluded with the recognition of companies demonstrating outstanding commitment to the SDGs, showcasing concrete examples of how sustainability can be strategically embedded in business.
We would like to, once again, thank all participating companies and attendees who contributed to making this event such a success. Your engagement is essential to advancing this agenda. We also invite you to explore the Year 4 Report, the event presentation, and the Observatory video, available through the links shared.
Adriana Zani, Center for Responsible Business and Leadership CATÓLICA-LISBON