Green Key is a leading standard of excellence in the field of sustainable tourism, guiding tourism establishments to do their part in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. In our feature series we will present each of the 17 SDGs and explain their connection to Green Key.
In 2015, the UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to guide governments, the private sector and civil society in transforming our world into a safer, fairer and more livable place.
On this page, you will learn more about Goal 16: "Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels".
What is Goal 16 about?
According to the UN, “Peace, justice and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions are at the core of sustainable development. Several regions have enjoyed increased and sustained levels of peace and security in recent decades. But many countries still face protracted armed conflict and violence, and far too many people struggle as a result of weak institutions and the lack of access to justice, information and other fundamental freedoms”. In the link above, you can read about the targets and indicators to Goal 16.
Green Key is a programme that promotes just and inclusive societies through cooperation and awareness raising. It encourages inclusiveness and collaboration between stakeholders from different sectors at local, national, and international level as well as equitability in employment, engagement with minorities, local communities and entrepreneurs, as well as dialogue and consent of nearby indigenous and local communities.
How does Green Key help to achieve goal 16?
As a prerequisite for the sustainability transition to occur, society must be organised and lead by effective institutions, as well as regulated by reliable, just, and equitable laws and regulations. Fighting against discrimination (SDG target 16.b) and for social justice (SDG target 16.3), enabling participation of society in the shaping of sustainable policies (SDG target 16.7), as well as ensuring fundamental freedoms (SDG target 16.10) and contrasting child abuse and exploitation (SDG target 16.2) are principles that lie at the very core of Green Key and of certified establishments’ ethics. Here are some of 2022-2025 criteria that reiterate these concepts and push Green Key sites to make stronger commitments in the field of inclusion and justice:
COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION - All certified establishment must follow international, national, and local legislation regarding the environment, health, safety, and labour (criterion 11.1). This includes, among others, fair and safe working conditions for their staff, but also taking an active stance to fight injustice and illegal activities in their surroundings, e.g. by not supporting illegal trafficking of cultural artefacts and products derived from endangered species (criterion 11.3), and by refraining from availing themselves of any form of child labour and/or exploitation (criterion 11.2);
INCLUSION – Minorities and disadvantaged groups must be part of the transition towards sustainability, and Green Key encourages tourism establishment to become examples of inclusion and equitable access to fundamental rights and equal treatment. Establishments are invited to extend access to people with special needs (criterion 11.4), as well as to be equitable in hiring women and local minorities, including in management positions (criterion 11.5);
POSITIVE IMPACT ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES - To support an inclusive society, Green Key certified establishments are encouraged to support initiatives for social community growth including, among others, education, health, sanitation, and infrastructure development (criterion 11.6). As establishments must also make sure their operations do not threaten the surrounding social environment, they should produce a code of conduct for activities in respective communities, engaging Indigenous and local communities in the process, so as to strengthen the local network, find peaceful coexisting solutions and create shared positive value (criterion 12.4).
A document describing Green Key’s overall contribution to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can be downloaded here.
