Abstract

The United Nations (UN) as the global body that coordinates activities of both states and non-state actors has made significant contributions in ensuring the attainment of national socio-economic development. The UN through its specialized agencies is taking precise and conscious efforts to put in place international norms and acceptable standards towards the accomplishment of environmental and socio-economic goals among states. Essentially, nations of the world were coming from a background of utilizing natural resources without critically considering the implications of their activities in respect of the present and the future generations. Consequently, the rising concerns regarding the depletion and degradation of soil chemical composition, soil, water and air pollution. Thus, the notion of integration of social, environment and economic responsibilities is born with sustainability anchored on the “triple bottom line”- Planet, Profit and People. The paper employs qualitative methodology, relying on secondary data. It employs Liberal and Constructivist theories which, respectively, emphasize the environmental business ideals required of corporate bodies, and the social construct reality of social interactions amongst nations. The study found that public and private organizations around the world are keying into sustainability with a focus on making living on this planet possible, safe and secure for the present and the future generation. Both the UN and the Standards such as the ISO 14001 have helped in enhancing the level of organizational effectiveness in promoting change in corporate culture and enhancing comparative advantage of corporate bodies around the world. It is concluded that there is the need for governments of nations to comply with the UN policies and initiatives on environmental and socio-economic issues. It recommended that Nigerian states and its corporate organizations needs to show responsibility in this direction so as to reap the benefits alongside other nations that showed remarkable commitments.