Engagements and disengagements of Multinational Enterprises with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Where we are and where to go from here

With five years remaining to reach the year 2030, only 17% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been achieved. Due to Multinational Enterprises’ (MNEs) considerable influence on the global economy and their impact on global sustainability, it is important to examine how MNEs contribute to the SDG agenda. Available literature in this domain acknowledges a lack of knowledge about the extent to which MNEs implement SDGs in their operations. To fill this gap, we juxtapose academic and practice literature to uncover actual engagements and disengagements of MNEs with SDGs. We synthesize studies from the past eight years to evaluate the state of the field and propose a research agenda. Academic work typically identifies the SDGs MNEs engage with, while practitioner literature highlights challenges and opportunities. Our review of 168 studies finds that MNEs in emerging markets, developed markets and the global context engage with SDGs 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, and 17. We also find that MNEs disengage with SDGs 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, and 16 across all contexts. Thus, we identify 9 key research areas critical for strengthening theoretical understanding and offering practical guidance for MNEs and policymakers in advancing global sustainability.