Home / News & Events / Monthly Bulletin
 |
Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum: Overview and Outcomes Identifies leading corporate innovations and collaborations as well as public policy recommendations. |
1. Business Opens the Discussion on a New UN Development Paradigm
2. Corporate Leaders Encouraged to Support Secretary-General’s Global Education Goals
3. Global Compact Champions the Role of Business in Supporting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
4. Local Network Update
5. Sustainia Award Names Ten Finalists
6. New Report Helps Define Global Corporate Giving
7. Participant Status: New Signatories, COPs and Delistings
1. Apply for the Social Investment Pioneer Awards
2. More Opportunities: Host an ESG Investor Briefing and more
1. Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum: Overview and Outcomes
2. Caring for Climate Website
3. New Geographies of Corporate Sustainability: Emerging Market Perspectives for Rio+20
4. Human Rights and Business Dilemmas Forum
1. Sustainia Award Ceremony (11 Oct, Copenhagen)
2. UN Forum on Business and Human Rights (4-5 Dec, Geneva)
3. Caring for Climate Meeting at COP18 (5 Dec, Doha)
4. Upcoming Webinars (October - November 2012)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Business Opens the Discussion on a New UN Development Paradigm
On the occasion of the first meeting of the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on the post-2015 UN development agenda, leaders from business, Government and civil society convened to discuss the private sector role in creating a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (25 September, New York). Several leading business representatives provided input and suggestions for how the private sector could be leveraged in the development and implementation of the new goals. More.
2. Corporate Leaders Encouraged to Support Secretary-General’s Global Education Goals
Marking the launch of Education First, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon applauded business leaders for their commitment to education and encouraged them “to continue to lead the way” (27 September, New York). The Global Compact is committed to advancing global education through the Secretary-General’s Education First initiative and has launched a new online platform that will host corporate commitments to action made in support of Education First. More. Make a commitment to Education First.
3. Global Compact Champions the Role of Business in Supporting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
During a roundtable discussion on Access and Technology at the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Global Compact offered to provide greater guidance to companies and support the scaling up of their activities to advance the rights of persons with disabilities in the workplace, marketplace and community (12 September, New York). The Global Compact will work closely with existing initiatives that advance business action to support persons with disabilities, such as the ILO Global Business and Disability Network. More.
4. Local Network Update
5. Sustainia Award Names Ten Finalists
The Sustainia initiative has named ten finalists for this year’s inaugural Sustainia Award, a new global prize recognizing tangible and available sustainability solutions across sectors and markets (20 September, Copenhagen). The finalists were chosen following extensive research among 100 nominees previously announced. Each finalist represents one of ten key sectors: health, resources, energy, education, IT, fashion, food, cities, transportation and buildings. More.
6. New Report Helps Define Global Corporate Giving
The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy has released comprehensive guidance to assist global companies with understanding the qualifications of a charitable contribution (21 September, New York). The report – Developing the Global Guide to What Counts: Expanding the Boundaries of Corporate Giving – outlines the variety and complexity of giving guidelines in 17 nations with the highest concentrations of Fortune 500 firms. More.
7. Participant Status: New Signatories, COPs and Delistings
In September, 87 companies and 53 non-business stakeholders joined the Global Compact. 84 companies were expelled for failing to communicate on progress. The largest companies (by employee number) to join during the month were: AECOM Technology Corporation (US); CaixaBank (Spain); Carlson Wagonlit Travel (France); Peab AB (Sweden); Legal & General Group Plc (UK) and Paper and Home Utility Industries (Myanmar).
Total figures as of 30 September:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Apply for the Social Investment Pioneer Awards
The Global Compact Principles for Social Investment Secretariat has extended the deadline to apply for the 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 (28 November 2012).
For further information and to apply, visit http://p4si.org/awards.shtml or email shaun.cannon@p4si.org by 5 October. For details about the Awards Ceremony, please visit http://socialinvestmentawards.eventbrite.com.au/.
2. More Opportunities: Host an ESG Investor Briefing and more
Many of the engagement opportunities announced in past issues of the Bulletin are still active. View the full list of Engagement Opportunities.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum: Overview and Outcomes: Identifies leading corporate practices in key sustainability areas – and the wide spectrum of ideas presented at the Forum on innovations, collaborations and public policy recommendations. The report showcases approximately 200 commitments to action announced by corporate leaders, over 50 new tools and resources, and media coverage of the Forum. Download.
2. Caring for Climate Website: A web-based platform that provides a repository for business and stakeholders to access information related to Caring for Climate. The site offers an array of tools and guidance materials relevant for companies seeking to improve their climate performance and evaluate climate-related business risks and opportunities. Visit www.caringforclimate.org.
3. New Geographies of Corporate Sustainability: Emerging Market Perspectives for Rio+20: Explores corporate sustainability innovations, approaches and perspectives from high-growth and emerging economies likely to significantly impact global corporate sustainability discourse and practice in the future. Download.
4. Human Rights and Business Dilemmas Forum: An online, multi-stakeholder forum to discuss dilemmas confronting business and identify related good practices. It also includes interactive workbooks and case studies. A new dilemma on Working with State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) was recently added to explore how companies can successfully work with SOEs in countries with poor human rights records without compromising their own human rights commitments. Access the Dilemmas Forum.
Please visit the Tools and Resources webpage to access all material issued by the Global Compact.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Sustainia Award Ceremony (11 Oct, Copenhagen)
- OPEN INVITATION - This year’s most sustainable solutions will be celebrated as former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spearheads a new sustainability honour: the Sustainia Award. One hundred solutions gathered from around the world are nominated for the award which was founded by Sustainia, Monday Morning and Regions20.
To learn more and register, please visit http://www.sustainia.me/sustainia-events/sustainia-action-forum/.
2. UN Forum on Business and Human Rights (4-5 Dec, Geneva)
- OPEN INVITATION - The first annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights will be held to discuss trends and challenges in the implementation of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the UN “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework.
The Forum is open to relevant stakeholders, including, business, civil society and Government. For more information or to register, visit http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Business/Pages/ForumonBusinessandHR2012.aspx by 1 November.
3. Caring for Climate Meeting at COP18 (5 Dec, Doha)
- OPEN TO CARING FOR CLIMATE SIGNATORIES - The high-level Caring for Climate Meeting will provide signatory companies the opportunity to interface with policymakers to share their solutions and commitments, and spur action and partnerships in support of the UNFCCC agenda. The meeting will be chaired by the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The event will be held from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm. For more information, visit http://www.caringforclimate.org/meetings.php.
4. Upcoming Webinars (October-November 2012) – OPEN INVITATION
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Event Calendar
October
PRME Webinar on Human Rights & Business (5 Oct, webinar)
Sustainia Award Ceremony (11 Oct, Copenhagen)
Local Network Regional Meeting Europe (18-19 Oct, Belgrade)
November
Local Network Regional Meeting Americas (6-8 Nov, Lima)
PRME MENA Forum (7-8 Nov, Jounieh)
Human Rights and Business Dilemmas Forum: Security Forces (13 Nov, webinar)
Welcome to the UN Global Compact - Guidance for Business Participants (13 Nov, webinar)
Reaching “GC Active” Level (14 Nov, webinar)
Achieving “GC Advanced” Level (15 Nov, webinar)
Global Compact Local Network Regional Meeting: Asia/Oceania (22-23 Nov, Colombo)
2012 Social Investment Pioneer Awards Ceremony (28 Nov, Melbourne)
December
UN Forum on Business and Human Rights (4-5 Dec, Geneva)
Caring for Climate Meeting at COP18 (5 Dec, Doha)
Human Rights Working Group Meeting (6 Dec, Geneva)
PRME Asian Forum (8-9 Dec, Tokyo)
11th Meeting of the Working Group on the 10th Principle against Corruption (10-11 Dec, New York)
Global Compact Local Network Regional Meeting: MENA/Africa (17-19 Dec, Cairo)
Please visit the Event Calendar on our website to learn more about the listed events.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
For information and updates on the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), subscribe to the PRI public newsletter.
