Bloomsbury UK joins UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Publishers Compact – The Bookseller

Bloomsbury UK’s Commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Adoption of the SDG Publishers Compact

Bloomsbury UK has formally become a signatory of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Publishers Compact. This initiative, launched in collaboration with the International Publishers Association, is designed to accelerate progress towards achieving the 17 SDGs by the 2030 target date. As a signatory, Bloomsbury commits to championing the SDGs throughout the Decade of Action (2020-2030).

Pooja Aggarwal, Director of Academic and Professional Publishing, stated that joining the compact is a “natural extension of Bloomsbury’s mission to publish works that matter for society” and reinforces the company’s belief that publishing can be a “powerful force for positive change.”

Strategic Initiatives Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

Bloomsbury has pledged to actively support the SDGs through its publishing practices and content. The company’s strategy encompasses several key areas:

• Content Acquisition and Author Diversity: In support of SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), Bloomsbury will continue to acquire content advocating for equality, sustainability, and justice. Initiatives include:
  • Bloomsbury BASE: Provides funding for projects by authors from underfunded research landscapes.
  • Bloomsbury Fellowship: Aims to increase representation for UK-based Black, Asian, or Ethnically Diverse writers.
• Open-Access Publishing: To advance SDG 4 (Quality Education) and disseminate research on critical global issues, Bloomsbury is expanding its open-access programme, which already includes over 500 titles. The Bloomsbury Open Collections initiative funds open-access publication at no cost to authors, focusing on research relevant to:
  • SDG 5: Gender and Sexuality
  • SDG 13: Environment and Climate Change
  • SDG 16: African Studies and International Development
• Internal Advocacy and Operations: An internal UN SDGs Working Group has been established to embed the goals across all departments. This group promotes the SDGs through:
  • Lightning talks and template documents.
  • “SDG-aligned Book of the Year” designations.
  • SDG-aligned Bloomsbury Lectures and promotional blog posts.

Commitment to Environmental and Supply Chain Sustainability

Bloomsbury is implementing tangible measures to address environmental and social justice within its operations and supply chain, directly contributing to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

1. Emissions Reduction Targets: The company has committed to significant carbon footprint reductions in line with the Paris Agreement.
   • Cut operational emissions by 46% by 2030.
   • Reduce supply chain emissions by 20% by 2035.
2. Sustainable Practices: Sustainability is being integrated into the corporate culture through carbon literacy training, staff benefits, and revised travel policies.
3. Supply Chain Responsibility: Through participation in initiatives like the Book Chain Project, Bloomsbury collaborates with suppliers, vendors, and other publishers to ensure its products are produced and sold in a manner consistent with environmental and social justice principles.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that Bloomsbury UK is addressing through its commitment to the UN SDG Publishers Compact. The analysis identifies the following connected SDGs:

• SDG 4: Quality Education: Explicitly mentioned in the article. Bloomsbury’s core mission as a publisher is to create and disseminate knowledge, which directly aligns with providing quality education. They aim to publish books that “inform, develop and inspire action.”
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: Implied through Bloomsbury’s commitment to publishing content that advocates for equality and its specific focus on “research in gender and sexuality” within its open-access program.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Addressed through initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion. The Bloomsbury BASE initiative supports authors from underfunded regions, and the Bloomsbury Fellowship promotes representation for UK-based Black, Asian, or Ethnically Diverse writers.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Explicitly mentioned. Bloomsbury’s participation in the Book Chain Project demonstrates a commitment to ensuring its products are produced and sold in ways consistent with environmental and social justice.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Explicitly mentioned. The company has set clear emission reduction targets and promotes climate literacy through internal training and by publishing content on “environment and climate change.”
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Addressed through the publisher’s pledge to publish content advocating for “justice” and to operate in a manner consistent with “social justice.” Their open-access program also promotes public access to information.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: Demonstrated by Bloomsbury becoming a signatory of the UN SDG Publishers Compact, which is a collaboration with the International Publishers Association. They also partner with suppliers, vendors, and other publishers on initiatives like the Book Chain Project.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the actions and commitments described in the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. Bloomsbury contributes to this by publishing “books and journals that will help inform, develop and inspire action” towards the SDGs.
2. Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels. By publishing research on “gender and sexuality,” Bloomsbury helps inform and shape policies and discourse.
3. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or other status. The Bloomsbury BASE and Fellowship initiatives directly work towards this by providing funding and increasing representation for authors from underfunded and ethnically diverse backgrounds.
4. Target 12.6: Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle. By joining the Compact, embedding sustainability into its culture, and participating in the Book Chain Project, Bloomsbury is actively adopting sustainable practices.
5. Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation. Bloomsbury addresses this by providing “carbon literacy training” to staff and publishing content to “influence climate discourse.”
6. Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information. The development of Bloomsbury’s open-access book program, with 500 titles already available at no cost to authors in certain fields, directly supports this target.
7. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. Bloomsbury’s actions, such as joining the SDG Publishers Compact and participating in the Book Chain Project with suppliers and other publishers, are direct examples of this.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions several specific, measurable actions and commitments that can serve as indicators to track Bloomsbury’s progress towards the identified targets:

1. Number of open-access titles: The article states that 500 titles are already available through its open-access program, which can be tracked over time.
2. Specific emission reduction goals: The commitment to “cutting operational emissions by 46% by 2030” and “supply chain emissions by 20% by 2035” are clear, quantifiable indicators for climate action.
3. Implementation of diversity initiatives: The existence and operation of the “Bloomsbury BASE initiative” and the “Bloomsbury Fellowship” serve as indicators of the company’s efforts to reduce inequalities. The number of authors supported can be a metric.
4. Internal engagement activities: The facilitation of an “internal UN SDGs Working Group” and the implementation of “lightning talks,” “SDG-aligned Book of the Year” designations, and “carbon literacy training” are indicators of the company’s commitment to embedding the SDGs into its culture.
5. Partnership participation: Bloomsbury’s status as a signatory of the “UN SDG Publishers Compact” and its participation in the “Book Chain Project” are clear indicators of its commitment to partnerships.
6. Content focus: The acquisition and publication of content focused on specific SDG-related themes like “gender and sexuality, environment and climate change, and African studies and international development” can be measured and tracked.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: thebookseller.com