The British Poultry Council has joined up with the The UK Stakeholders for Sustainable Development network (UKSSD) to call on the Government to ensure the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the heart of UK COVID-19 recovery plans

As the Government plans for the UK’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders of more than 100 renowned companies, charities, universities, and trade associations, including BPC Chief Executive, Richard Griffiths, have called on the UK Government to ensure the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the heart of UK Covid-19 recovery plans.

The SDGs are part of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and give a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future”. There are 17 Goals at its centre, encompassing climate action, education and health.

The letter suggests that Government’s approach to the SDGs be ‘used to consolidate and future-proof [recovery] plans,’ recommending that they are used to:

1. Prioritise the most vulnerable in our society and level-up regional and societal inequalities

2. Build coherent policies for a healthy planet and to aid the transition to net zero

3. Unite all sectors behind a plan to build a stronger and more resilient economy

The British Poultry Council stands committed to using every opportunity to help the UK deliver these SDGs in support of a sustainable, resilient and socially just nation post-COVID-19. We recognise that we must work together to recover from the pandemic and build a better future for those living in Britain, giving them access to a good life on a healthy planet.

The poultry industry is making significant contributions by investing in innovation and infrastructure; creating jobs in rural communities is necessary to build a strong and resilient economy post-pandemic. We are also working tirelessly to reduce hunger in Britain. 8.4 million people are still ‘too poor to eat.’ This is unacceptable. We will continue to work to change this in our efforts to put safe, wholesome and nutritious food on every table.