UN GLOBAL COMPACT BULLETIN

JULY 2012

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NEWS & UPDATES

1. Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum Convenes 2,700 Leaders and Puts Forward Commitments, Innovations and Public Policy Recommendations

• Final Forum Text Presented to UN Secretary-General at Rio+20
• Business Puts in a Bid to Engage in Sustainable Development Goals Process
• Action Pledges by Business Kick Off Rio+20 Drive for Sustainability Solutions
• Business Makes a Pitch for Corporate-based and Public-Private Sustainability Solutions at Compact for Rio
• CEOs Commit to Water Sustainability
• Framework for Action on Social Enterprise and Impact Investing Launched
• Exchanges Listing Over 4,600 Companies Commit to Promoting Sustainability
• New Alliance to Promote Supplier Diversity and Inclusion Launched
• Summaries of Forum News by Day

2. Higher Education Commits to Sustainable Development at Rio+20
3. Global Compact and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Launch New Collaborations

• Joint Declaration Making the Case for Greater Scale and Collaboration
• New Programme to Boost Sustainable Business and Reporting in Developing Countries

4. World Day Against Child Labour Highlights Human Rights of Children
5. Participant Status: New Signatories, COPs and Delistings

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

1. Call for Submissions: Momentum for Change Initiative
2. Apply for the Social Investment Pioneer Awards
3. More Opportunities: Endorse Caring for Climate and more

FEATURED RESOURCES

1. 2011 Global Compact Implementation Survey: Annual Review of Business Policies and Actions to Advance Sustainability
2. 52 New Resources Launched at the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum

EVENT INVITATIONS & WEBINARS

1. Upcoming Webinars (July 2012)

• Introduction to the Global Compact (10 Jul)
• COP Differentiation: Reaching “GC Active” Level (11 Jul)
• COP Differentiation: Achieving “GC Advanced” Level (12 Jul)

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NEWS & UPDATES

1. Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum Convenes 2,700 Leaders and Puts Forward Commitments, Innovations and Public Policy Recommendations

• Final Forum Text Presented to UN Secretary-General at Rio+20
  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accepted the final outcome document from the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum, including a listing of more than 200 business commitments, as well as key innovations and public policy recommendations across key sustainability areas. More. Read OVERVIEW AND OUTCOMES: Innovation & Collaboration, Public Policy Recommendations, Commitments to Action.

• Business Puts in a Bid to Engage in Sustainable Development Goals Process
  A role for the international business community in identifying and promoting the Sustainable Development Goals was endorsed at Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum closing plenary via a show of hands by business executives as well as other Forum participants from civil society, Governments, UN agencies and academia. This endorsement was conveyed to the UN and Heads of State at Rio+20 through the Forum outcome document. More. 

• Action Pledges by Business Kick Off Rio+20 Drive for Sustainability Solutions
  The final compilation of voluntary private sector commitments to the Rio+20 process  reached 200 and covers areas ranging from low- or no-carbon footprints to re-forestation, business plans for subsistence farmers and renewal of clean, fresh water sources. More. Browse commitments at business.un.org/commitments. 

• Business Makes a Pitch for Corporate-based and Public-Private Sustainability Solutions at Compact for Rio
  Executives, investors, civil society leaders and business school deans delivered a strong message to world leaders meeting at Rio+20 to tackle economic deprivation and environmental risks at the Forum closing plenary – Compact for Rio. The executive summary of the Forum outcome document endorses the potential of multi-stakeholder collaboration in making and scaling transformational changes on energy, water, food, women’s empowerment and other global issues. More. Read the Executive Summary. 

• CEOs Commit to Water Sustainability at Rio+20
  A group of 45 chief executive officers, representing a diverse range of global companies and regions, announced a major commitment to advance corporate water management practices. In a special Communiqué carrying the names of all 45 CEOs, the business leaders highlighted the urgency of the global water crisis, calling on governments to step up their efforts and to work more actively with the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders. More. 

• Framework for Action on Social Enterprise and Impact Investing Launched
  The Framework for Action on Social Enterprise and Impact Investing offers investors, large corporations and Governments a valuable resource for engaging with for-profit social enterprises whose goods and services address social and environmental needs. The Framework outlines three key steps for corporations, investors and Governments: prioritizing the rationale for engaging with social enterprise, defining a strategy, and choosing specific approaches to execute. More. 

• Exchanges Listing Over 4,600 Companies Commit to Promoting Sustainability
  A group of five stock exchanges – NASDAQ OMX, BM&FBOVESPA, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) and The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) – announced a commitment to advance long-term, sustainable investment in their markets through promoting improved environmental, social and corporate governance disclosure and performance among listed companies. More. 

• New Alliance to Promote Supplier Diversity and Inclusion Launched
  The Global Compact, the International Trade Centre, and WEConnect International have joined forces to bring to a wider audience the information, tools and resources needed to empower corporations and women-owned enterprises to work more closely together to advance sustainable development. Among the alliance’s anticipated activities are educational webinars, capacity-building efforts, updated guidance materials, trade events and calls to action. More. 

• Summaries of Forum News by Day
  
  • June 18
  • June 17
  • June 16
  • June 15
    

2. Higher Education Commits to Sustainable Development at Rio+20
At the Third Global Forum for Responsible Management Education (14-15 June, Rio de Janeiro), 300 leading business school and university representatives worldwide agreed on a number of concrete commitments to action outlined in a roadmap for responsible management education. The event also marked the launch of several resources addressing topics including anti-corruption, poverty and gender equality. More about the Third Global Forum for Responsible Management Education.  

During Rio+20 a group of more than 250 institutions – the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative – announced a declaration in support of sustainable development. More about the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative.

3. Global Compact and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Launch New Collaborations

• Joint Declaration Making the Case for Greater Scale and Collaboration
  The Global Compact and GRI issued a joint statement highlighting the need to take corporate sustainability implementation and reporting practices to greater scale, and calling on governments to work more fully with the international business community (7 June, New York/Amsterdam). More. Download Sustainable Business – Helping to Foster the Future We Want.

• New Programme to Boost Sustainable Business and Reporting in Developing Countries
  The Global Compact, GRI and Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs launched a €3.2 million programme (13 June, New York) that aims to build the capacity of businesses in developing countries to manage and report on key economic, environmental and social issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, human rights, women’s empowerment and anti-corruption. More.

4. World Day Against Child Labour Highlights Human Rights of Children
On 12 June, the World Day Against Child Labour promoted awareness and action to tackle child labour and other human rights violations against children. The International Labour Organization and Global Compact offer guidance to help companies address this challenge. More.

5. Participant Status: New Signatories, COPs and Delistings
In June, 104 companies and 43 non-business stakeholders joined the Global Compact. 100 companies were delisted for failing to communicate on progress. The largest companies (by employee number) to join during the month were: Joint Stock Company "National Company "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" (Kazakhstan), Tongaat Hulett (South Africa), Electricite Reseau Distribution France - ERDF (France), Saudi Basic Industries Corporation - SABIC (Saudi Arabia), Sunway Group (Malaysia).
       
Total figures as of 30 June:

• Business participants: 6,979
• Non-business participants: 3,369
• COPs submitted: 15,909
• Delisted business participants: 3,610

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ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

1. Call for Submissions: Momentum for Change Initiative
Through the Momentum for Change initiative, the UNFCCC Secretariat in partnership with Global Compact is calling for projects, programmes or initiatives in the field of climate change mitigation. The Momentum for Change Advisory Panel will select a small number of these to be presented at a special event at COP 18/CMP 8 in Doha (26 November to 7 December 2012).  

Applications are due by 13 July 2012. Click here for more information. 

2. Apply for the Social Investment Pioneer Awards
The Global Compact Principles for Social Investment Secretariat has launched the inaugural Social Investment Pioneer Awards, which aim to recognize and showcase examples of international best practice in social investment. Winners will be announced at a special forum to be held in Melbourne (November 2012).

For further information and to apply, visit http://www.p4si.org/awards or email shaun.cannon@p4si.org by 30 September. 

3. More Opportunities: Endorse Caring for Climate and more
Many of the engagement opportunities announced in past issues of the Bulletin are still active. View the full list of Engagement Opportunities.

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FEATURED RESOURCES

1. 2011 Global Compact Implementation Survey: Annual Review of Business Policies and Actions to Advance: Sustainability: Launched in 2007, the Global Compact Implementation Survey assesses how – and to what extent – participating companies are implementing policies and taking action on the ten principles and in support of broader UN goals and issues. In 2011, 1,325 companies from over 100 countries responded to the Global Compact Implementation Survey – making it the largest annual study conducted on corporate responsibility policies and practices by business globally. Download the UN Global Compact 2011 Implementation Survey. More about the Survey. 

2. 52 New Resources Launched at the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum: These resources take stock of progress made and key trends related to corporate sustainability; provide guidance on how to implement elements of corporate sustainability; and highlight existing and emerging best practices –across the following categories: Local Networks, human rights, environment, anti-corruption, food & agriculture, urbanization & cities, strategic social investment & social enterprise, UN-business partnerships, disclosure, responsible investment and management education. Browse new resources.

 

Please visit the Tools and Resources webpage to access all material issued by the Global Compact.

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EVENT INVITATIONS & WEBINARS

1. Upcoming Webinars (July 2012)
– OPEN INVITATION – A number of webinars on a variety of topics will be convened over the next month. All Global Compact participants are encouraged to participate in these sessions: 

• Introduction to the Global Compact (10 Jul, 9:30 am EDT)
  
• COP Differentiation: Reaching “GC Active” Level (11 Jul, 9:30 am EDT)
  
• COP Differentiation: Achieving “GC Advanced” Level (12 Jun, 9:30 am EDT)
  

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  Event Calendar

July
Introduction to the Global Compact (10 Jul, webinar)
COP Differentiation: Reaching “GC Active” Level (11 Jul, webinar)
COP Differentiation: Achieving “GC Advanced” Level (12 Jul, webinar)

August
Human Rights and Business Dilemmas Forum: Conflict Minerals (3 Aug, webinar)
Introduction to the Global Compact (14 Aug, webinar)
COP Differentiation: Reaching “GC Active” Level (15 Aug, webinar)
COP Differentiation: Achieving “GC Advanced” Level (16 Aug, webinar)

September
PRME Australia/New Zealand Regional Meeting (27 Sep, Brisbane)

December
Human Rights Working Group Meeting (6 Dec, Geneva)
PRME Asian Forum (8-9 Dec, Tokyo)

Please visit the Event Calendar on our website to learn more about the listed events.

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Published 9 July 2012