Image source: United Nations Global Compact/Michael Dames
June 25, 2015
On June 25 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, a special event was held to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the launch of the "United Nations Global Compact" initiative. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended and delivered a speech, calling on the more than 8,000 business and industry partners involved in the "Global Compact" to provide more innovative approaches and strengthen efforts to fully support the forthcoming "Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda" and related actions.
When Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended the event commemorating the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Global Compact at the UN General Assembly Hall, he noted that when the UN launched the Global Compact initiative in July 2000, calling on the business community to take greater social responsibility and adhere to ten basic principles in human rights, labor standards, environment, and anti-corruption, many observers thought the UN was overreaching by trying to mobilize the international business community as part of the solution and to establish partnerships with it. However, today, more than 8,000 businesses from over 170 countries and regions of the developed and developing world have joined this global network. These companies commit to adhering to internationally recognized principles in business ethics, human rights, labor standards, and environmental respect. Through responsible and creative corporate leadership, they help establish a global mechanism that promotes economic sustainability and enhances social benefits.
Ban Ki-moon stated, "This year is one with the potential for transformative change. The general membership is crafting a new global development agenda for the next 15 years, hoping to go beyond the significant progress already achieved under the guidance of the Millennium Development Goals. At the heart of this new framework will be the Sustainable Development Goals, which will be formally adopted at the World Leaders Summit held at the United Nations Headquarters this September; subsequently, governments will convene in Paris in December to forge a collective path forward on climate change issues... In the coming period, businesses will be indispensable partners. The business agenda and the sustainable development agenda can merge in exciting new ways!"
Ban Ki-moon emphasized that sustainable development is not charity or handouts, but a wise investment. The Sustainable Development Goals will offer extraordinary investment channels and platforms, enabling responsible businesses to thrive. He stated that a new era is about to begin, and the "Global Compact" will continue to provide diverse approaches and expand efforts to help business members achieve greater impact. In this regard, he called on "Global Compact" members to further deepen and strengthen their efforts through ongoing key initiatives such as the "Caring for Climate" initiative, the "Women's Empowerment Principles," the "Children’s Rights and Business Principles," the "Business for Peace" action, and the "Anti-Corruption Call-to-Action."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also announced that day the decision to appoint Lise Kingo, the Executive Vice President of Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk and Chair of the Danish Corporate Responsibility Committee, as the new head of the "United Nations Global Compact." She will officially take office on September 1st of this year, succeeding the current Executive Director, Georg Kell, who is retiring.
At the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos in January 1999, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed the "Global Compact" initiative, which was fully launched within the United Nations system in July of the following year. This initiative provides an opportunity for businesses to become socially responsible "corporate citizens" and to engage in international affairs under the conditions of economic globalization. It also serves as an opportunity for businesses to enhance their international visibility, establish international connections, and seek business opportunities.
Article reprinted from:https://news.un.org/zh/story/2015/06/238352
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