Report on NJBIA’s Engagement with Sustainable Development Goals via Public Discourse

Executive Summary

Michele Siekerka, President and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), is scheduled for a media appearance to discuss the state’s economic competitiveness. The discussion will focus on the “2025 Blueprint for a Competitive New Jersey” and the state’s recent performance in national business rankings. This engagement provides a platform to analyze New Jersey’s economic strategies through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning economic growth, innovation, and partnerships.

Strategic Blueprint and SDG Alignment

The “2025 Blueprint for a Competitive New Jersey” is a strategic initiative that directly intersects with several key Sustainable Development Goals. The plan’s focus on enhancing the state’s business environment is crucial for achieving:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By fostering a competitive economy, the blueprint aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, leading to the creation of decent jobs for all.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: A core component of improving competitiveness involves building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation, which are the central tenets of SDG 9.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: A thriving and competitive business landscape is fundamental to supporting the economic viability and sustainability of New Jersey’s communities.

Economic Competitiveness as a Measure of SDG Progress

The discussion will address New Jersey’s declining position in CNBC’s “America’s Top States for Business” ranking. This metric serves as a critical indicator of the state’s progress, or lack thereof, toward its SDG 8 and SDG 9 targets. A lower ranking suggests challenges in creating a conducive environment for sustainable economic growth and innovation, highlighting areas requiring urgent policy intervention to realign with global sustainability objectives.

Dissemination and Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17)

The appearance on News 12’s “Power & Politics” exemplifies a multi-stakeholder approach, aligning with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. This collaboration between a major business association and a media outlet facilitates public discourse and raises awareness about the critical link between economic policy and sustainable development. Such partnerships are vital for mobilizing the collective action needed to address complex state-level challenges.

Broadcast Schedule for Public Engagement

The program is scheduled for broadcast at the following times:

1. Saturday: 2:30 p.m.
2. Saturday: 4:30 p.m.
3. Sunday: 11:30 a.m.
4. Sunday: 2:30 p.m.
5. Sunday: 4:30 p.m.

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

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article’s central theme revolves around New Jersey’s economic performance and business environment. The mention of “NJBIA’s 2025 Blueprint for a Competitive New Jersey” and the concern over the state’s “slipping rating in CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business ranking” directly pertain to fostering a robust and competitive economy, which is the primary objective of SDG 8.

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

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…

    The discussion about a “Blueprint for a Competitive New Jersey” and the state’s business ranking implies a focus on improving economic productivity and making the state more attractive for business, which aligns with this target.

  • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation…

    The NJBIA (New Jersey Business & Industry Association) is an entity that advocates for policies favorable to business growth, entrepreneurship, and job creation. Their “Blueprint” is explicitly a plan to promote such development-oriented policies.

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

While the article does not mention official SDG indicators, it points to proxy indicators used to measure economic health and business climate:

• CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business ranking: The article explicitly states that New Jersey’s “slipping rating” in this ranking is a key topic. This ranking serves as a tangible, albeit non-official, indicator used to measure the state’s business competitiveness, which is directly related to the goals of Targets 8.2 and 8.3.
• Metrics within “NJBIA’s 2025 Blueprint for a Competitive New Jersey”: It is implied that this blueprint contains specific goals, benchmarks, and policy proposals. These elements would function as a set of indicators to track the state’s progress toward becoming more competitive.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: njbia.org