Contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 Agenda, a 15-year plan that aims to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives of everyone, everywhere. The cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 global goals with 169 targets that run from 2016 through 2030.

In mid-2023, the world reached the halfway point of the 15-year period for achieving the SDGs. According to a recent UN report, the pandemic put to “a grinding halt” many of the advances that were being made. So much needs to be done to help solve the critical environmental issues facing the global community – climate change, water scarcity, resource depletion and habitat loss, to name the big ones.

“We are at a moment of truth and reckoning. But together, we can make this a moment of hope.” These are the words of António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. His message is that the UN goals are actually achievable – if governments, businesses, nonprofits, other organizations and even individuals all do their part.

At Toyota, we support the fundamental mission of the SDGs – to make the world better, safer and healthier. Toyota’s response to the UN SDGs, particularly those addressing environmental issues, is centered around the six far-reaching challenges within the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 (Challenge 2050). Each major region has developed strategies and targets to help the company strive to achieve these challenges.

Here in North America, Toyota’s activities supporting both Challenge 2050 and the SDGs are organized around our environmental sustainability focus areas of Carbon, Water, Materials and Biodiversity. Our long-term strategies in each of these focus areas, supported by outreach activities, show the steps we’re taking to help address the world’s pressing environmental problems and become part of the solution.

Achieving these goals takes careful planning. And it takes time. We remain committed to acting. Our North American team members are on board and we are collaborating with suppliers, dealers and other partners. Together, we are ready to make great things happen on our journey towards a more sustainable future.

To find out more about the 17 UN SDGs, visit the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals website.

Carbon

SDG 7: Ensure Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable and Modern Energy for All

Increasing renewable energy capacity and access are crucial to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Toyota uses energy to power our manufacturing plants, distribution centers and offices. Our suppliers and dealers also use energy to power their facilities. Promoting efficient energy use and renewable energy sourcing are key components of Toyota’s Carbon strategy in North America.

SDG 13: Take Urgent Action to Combat Climate Change and its Impacts

TMNA acknowledges climate change as a priority management issue and supports the goals of the Paris Agreement, a pact adopted by 196 countries affirming the goal to keep warming well below 2°C, and to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. 

Here in North America, we are working towards reducing CO₂ emissions from new vehicles by offering a range of lower emission vehicles, which allows us to use our limited battery resources to put more cars on the road that reduce carbon emissions in the short term. We are also working towards reducing absolute GHG emissions from our facilities and transportation activities and increasing our use of renewable energy. And we are working with suppliers and dealers to communicate our goals and help them find ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Water

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Water is a precious and finite resource that is critical to the survival of people and the planet. But water scarcity is a growing problem in many parts of the world. Some of Toyota's North American sites are in water-stressed areas, and our larger assembly plants use significant volumes of water during vehicle production, particularly in the painting process. 

In North America, we are moving beyond an onsite water management approach to one of site and watershed water stewardship. We are committed to engaging in and supporting efforts that reduce and recycle water used in our facilities, protect water bodies, invest in education and awareness, and share best practices with others. As the availability of clean water becomes more and more important to Toyota communities across the region, we will continue to follow the principles set forth by the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) International Water Stewardship Standard.

Materials

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Economic growth and development require the production of goods and services that improve quality of life. But the rapid increase in global consumption of materials has come at a cost to the environment. Sustainable production and consumption patterns are needed to minimize natural resource depletion and the use of toxic materials as well as reduce waste and pollutants.

Here in North America, to promote a circular economy and help avoid both depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution from increasing amounts of waste, we focus on increasing reuse and recycling, reducing waste and enhancing our use of sustainable raw materials.

Biodiversity

SDG 15: Life on Land

Halting biodiversity loss has become a critical endeavor as many species slide towards extinction. We believe business has a role to play in reversing nature loss and protecting biodiversity. 

Across North America, we are focusing on three things: no net loss of biodiversity, respect for legally designated protected areas, and avoidance of negative impacts on threatened or protected species. Our focused approach to this involves working with stakeholders, including employees, communities and nonprofit organizations, on biodiversity projects on our sites and in our communities.

Outreach

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

We recognize that no single entity can achieve the SDGs in isolation. These are shared problems that require a shared response.

The Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 seeks to create positive impact, which can only be achieved by collaborating with our stakeholders. Through the power of collaboration, we hope to create lasting outcomes on a macro scale that will help us build a more sustainable future.

In North America, Toyota supports local, national and regional community projects that align with our environmental sustainability focus areas of Carbon, Water, Materials and Biodiversity. By concentrating our support on organizations that address challenges in these four core areas, we are building on our environmental commitment beyond minimizing negative impacts and helping to promote positive environmental change across the North American region. We share our know-how and collaborate so that we can build more than great cars – we are building a better tomorrow by harnessing the power of collective action.