Speaking yesterday to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri expressed the commitment of the international jewellery, gemstone and precious metals industries to the fulfillment of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, noting that “Our world faces unprecedented challenges, but together we still have the opportunity to construct a better future for all, building resilience and leaving no one behind.”

The CIBJO President was among a handful of NGO leaders selected to address the 79th sitting of the UNGA, with only one NGO delegate being provided the opportunity to speak each half-day session to the gathering of world leaders. CIBJO has served as the global jewellery sector’s sole representative in the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2006, when it was granted Special Consultative Status in the organisation.

“We are fully committed to reinforce the 2030 Agenda and to eradicate poverty during these times of multiple crises, through the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions” the CIBJO President stated. “With only seven years left to meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda, we all need to scale up.”

“There is no contradiction in a luxury product industry committing itself to helping solve the world’s most pressing economic, social and environmental challenges,” he continued. “Our raw materials are sourced predominantly in economically under-developed regions of Africa, South America, Asia and the South Pacific, as are many of our key stakeholders. We have an overriding strategic interest in partnering with governments and the international community.”

“CIBJO has long supported a paradigm-change in the world jewellery, gemstone and precious metals industries, by which those countries, communities and individuals, who for centuries have supplied our essential raw materials, become empowered as key decision-makers, able to contribute and benefit equitably from the planning and management of the jewellery business in general, so as to support their own economic and social development,” Dr. Cavalieri continued.  

The CIBJO President concluded his statement by outlining concrete measures being undertaken at present, to develop structured ESG models for the jewellery industry, rather than the more aspirational CSR models that earlier had driven CIBJO’s approach.

“We currently are working on designing measurable and quantifiable activities and benchmarks to reflect a company’s external impact on society and the environment,” he said. “Our ESG guidance document, which is available online at no cost, presents 14 specific principles, five of which relate to environmental policy, four to socially responsible policies, and five to governance. Each principle includes a set of recommended actions, and an indication of its relevance to specific UN Sustainable Development Goals.”