Strategy and Governance > 

Contributing to the UN SDGs

Ford promotes the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by communicating how our products and operations contribute toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What Are the SDGs?

In September 2015, the Member States of the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 Goals – and the 169 targets that lie behind them – form a new sustainable development agenda intended to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.

  Find out more about the UN SDGs

Our Priorities

We contribute toward meeting those SDGs that most directly relate to our business and where we can add most value. However, such global challenges require effective, multi-stakeholder collaboration at a local, national and international level. So as we strive to meet these ambitions, we also call on all our stakeholders and partners to join us in our efforts.

  • Good Health and Well-Being
  • Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Climate Action

Good Health and Well-Being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Why Is This a Priority?

Health and safety is our number one priority. We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our people in our facilities around the world, those in our extensive supply chain and when our customers get behind the wheel. Both health and safety and product quality and safety were identified as important human rights issues in our 2018 saliency assessment.

How We’re Contributing

Clean Water and Sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Why Is This a Priority?

Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is a fundamental human right, and was identified as a major issue in our 2018 human rights assessment. Water resources are unevenly distributed and water security is high on the global agenda. Water is also critical to our manufacturing operations so we continually strive to reduce our water consumption, as well as that of our supply chain.

How We’re Contributing

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Why Is This a Priority?

Today’s transportation networks are congested and inefficient, especially in urban areas. But we have an alternative vision of mobility in the future: an integrated system that employs advanced technologies, shared mobility services and autonomous vehicle technology to help people move more safely, confidently and freely.

How We’re Contributing

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Why Is This a Priority?

Sustainable transport will provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all. Our mobility services and solutions will help the cities of tomorrow address a host of challenges. These range from traffic congestion to poor air quality, which was identified as an important human rights issue in our formal saliency assessment in 2018.

How We’re Contributing

Responsible Consumption and Production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Why Is This a Priority?

Manufacturing vehicles requires using natural resources with a limited or even finite supply. Therefore, we need to use, reuse and recycle them efficiently and sustainably, reduce our dependence on petroleum-based plastics and move toward zero waste to landfill throughout our operations. To maximize our impact, we also seek to increase the resource efficiency of our supply chain. Product quality, the responsible sourcing of raw materials, forced labor and child labor were all highlighted as key issues in our 2018 human rights assessment.

How We’re Contributing

Climate Action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Why Is This a Priority?

The production and use of combustion engine vehicles for transport contributes to climate change, negatively impacting people and communities. The scientific community has concluded that limiting global temperature increase to less than 2°C may help to delay the impacts of climate change. Both climate change and air quality were identified as key human rights issues in our saliency assessment in 2018.

How We’re Contributing

Supporting the Wider Goals

We also contribute to many of the other SDGs, illustrating the significant role that transportation and the freedom to move plays in increasing social mobility and driving human progress.

Quality Education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

We train our suppliers to address issues concerning human rights and working conditions in their facilities, and invest in education programs designed to build our future talent pipeline.

Gender Equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

We are an equal opportunity employer that respects and supports women across our business and supply chain, creating opportunities for empowerment and advancement.

Affordable and Clean Energy

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

We are working to meet more of our energy needs from renewable sources to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and address climate change.

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

We are making employees’ lives better, and improving retention and satisfaction levels, by creating a safe, collaborative and respectful workplace where employees can fulfill their potential, and encouraging our suppliers to do the same.

Reduced Inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries

Embracing all aspects of inclusion and equality better reflects the communities in which we operate, and the range of skills, opinions and experiences of a diverse workforce strengthens our business.

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

We seek to conduct our business in an ethical and responsible manner, with strong policies and governance structures in place to guide all aspects of our business, from human rights to customer privacy and data protection.

Partnerships for the Goals

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

We are working with a range of partners to develop the next generation of mobility technology and services, to reduce the environmental impact of our business and to create a better world.