In recognition of World Water Day on 22 March, the UN Global Compact and its CEO Water Mandate announced new progress in mobilizing the private sector to tackle global water challenges. Businesses scale action through the Water Resilience Coalition to improve water stewardship in priority regions. With growing corporate commitments and strategic collaborations, the UN Global Compact continues to drive a collective effort toward water resilience, ensuring sustainable management of this critical resource for communities and industries worldwide. The Coalition aims to drive corporate action on water stress in 100 Priority Basins by 2030...  Read more »

March brings several gender equity-related events and initiatives. These actions work to advance Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Corporate action on gender equality through initiatives like Forward Faster, the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and a new male allyship campaign and e-learning course allow businesses to integrate gender-responsive business practices through their interactive fundamentals. By leveraging these tools, companies can unlock economic opportunities and foster inclusive, sustainable growth...  Read more »

The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, held 20-24, January, brought together global leaders from various sectors to explore the theme "Collaboration in the Intelligent Age." This pivotal gathering focused on investing in people, safeguarding the planet and rebuilding trust. The UN Global Compact enhanced its presence with events at the SDG Tent, engaging CEOs and stakeholders to drive sustainable solutions, reflecting its commitment to the 2030 Agenda and fostering impactful public-private partnerships. The SDG Tent served as a dynamic hub, bringing together diverse perspectives to explore bold, transformative solutions for a sustainable and inclusive future...  Read more »

For the UN Global Compact, 2024 will be remembered as a year of growth, convening and innovation marked by dedication and commitment to advancing corporate sustainability through the Ten Principles...  Read more »

The UN Global Compact, in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), hosted the 12th Annual High-Level Meeting of the Caring for Climate initiative at COP29 in Baku on 13 November. The event brought together senior leaders from business, finance, government, civil society and the United Nations to focus on advancing climate finance commitments to meet the urgency of the global climate agenda...  Read more »

Conference of the Parties (COP) is a formal assembly where countries and regional entities convene to discuss and negotiate solutions to global issues under international conventions. The three main COPs address climate change, biodiversity and desertification, stemming from the 1992 Earth Summit... Read more »

During the High-level Week of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the Summit of the Future, the UN Global Compact brought together more than 3,000 business and Government leaders to drive sustainable economic growth, foster strategic partnerships and shape the future. With only 17 percent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on track, the aim was to catalyze progress towards the SDGs and maximize the outcomes of the Summit of the Future. .  Read more »

The High-Level week of the United Nations General Assembly (20-27 September) presents a unique opportunity for CEOs, business leaders, Heads of State and Government, young SDG advocates and citizens to unite. This week is crucial for addressing the global poly crisis and accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ...  Read more »

At Les Rencontres Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence in France from 5-6 July, UN Global Compact Executive Director and CEO Sanda Ojiambo, along with colleagues from Global Compact Network France, connected with global leaders to discuss various avenues for businesses and corporations to align their strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the expectations of all stakeholders....  Read more »

The Global Compact Network Indonesia hosted its Annual General Meeting & Participants Gathering in 2024. This momentous occasion also marked the launch of the Forward Faster initiative in Indonesia. The event took place on Thursday, 13 June 2024, and centered around the theme "Driving Companies to Move Forward Faster," highlighting the ambitious goal of advancing sustainable development. ..  Read more »

To Global Compact Network Caribbean launched on 22 May, bringing together 11 countries and six overseas territories. The new Network “is a critical step towards leveraging the unique position of Caribbean economies as advocates for climate justice, sustainable development financing and biodiversity preservation," said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. It brings the total to 62 UN Global Compact Networks....  Read more »

UN Global Compact Networks and companies met in Brussels with Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the European Commission to discuss how they can support companies under new sustainability regulations, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. With more than 9,000 participants in the EU, the UN Global Compact “can play a significant role advancing the EU corporate sustainability agenda,” said Ole Lund Hansen, Chief of Global Operations....  Read more »

The UN Global Compact is launching the Invest in Women Platform, a new approach to address the gender gap in financial services. It aims to share promising practices to promote equal representation in finance and explore areas where finance can support gender equity across issues and industries, wrote Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, in an opinion piece on Context, a Thomson Reuters Foundation's media platform....  Read more »

At the February ILO meeting of experts on wage policies, including living wages, the UN Global Compact delivered a statement calling for authoritative guidance from the ILO to develop a standard definition of a living wage aligned with human rights standards, develop agreed criteria for methodologies for estimating evidence-based and transparent living wages and provide guidance to companies through a template for a living wage implementation roadmap. ILO’s support will be key in enabling and incentivizing more companies to embrace living wages as integral to decent work and economic growth and signaling policymakers to adopt living wage policies...  Read more »

CEOs and UN officials gathered at a convening by the UN Global Compact on the future of responsible business at the World Economic Forum in Davos. They discussed how companies can drive progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), manage global shocks and create partnerships for sustainability through the Forward Faster initiative. Their recommendations will help shape the agenda for the UN Summit of the Future in September...  Read more »

The UN Global Compact launched its Think Lab on Biodiversity and Nature at the High-Level Meeting of Caring for Climate at COP28, co-organized with UNFCCC and UNEP, to showcase corporate thought leadership around the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact, said: “The business community has the potential to help drive progress on protecting and restoring biodiversity … 395 million new jobs and over $10 trillion dollars in business opportunities are expected to arise from nature-positive transitions.”....  Read more »

UN Global Compact CEO and Executive Director Sanda Ojiambo visited China to promote the sustainability role of the private sector in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and lay the foundations for a Global Africa Business Initiative–China CEO network to be launched next year. In Beijing, the Global Compact unveiled guidance and tools for companies working on the BRI to innovate and harness resources to ensure infrastructure projects reflect sustainable development....  Read more »

UN Global Compact CEO and Executive Director Sanda Ojiambo visited China to promote the sustainability role of the private sector in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and lay the foundations for a Global Africa Business Initiative–China CEO network to be launched next year. In Beijing, the Global Compact unveiled guidance and tools for companies working on the BRI to innovate and harness resources to ensure infrastructure projects reflect sustainable development...  Read more »

The UN Global Compact launched its Forward Faster initiative to accelerate private sector action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 2030 Agenda. Businesses are asked to commit to one or more ambitious targets in gender equality, climate action, living wage, water resilience and finance & investment. “Forward Faster is here to guide companies on where they can make the biggest, fastest impact for 2030,” said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact....  Read more »

The Global Africa Business Initiative will bring together private sector and Government leaders at a landmark event 21-22 September to promote investment and trade opportunities across Africa and the world. Held during the UN General Assembly week, the meeting of Heads of State and Government, CEOs, UN leaders, investors and entrepreneurs will explore the potential of Africa as a major driver of global business. It will focus on Energy Access & Energy Transitions, Inclusive Growth & Trade and Digital Transformation....  Read more »

Leaders in business, Government, civil society and others gathered at the 2023 SDG Global Business Forum and considered private sector actions to rescue the SDGs. “Sustainability must be core to the business of presidents and prime ministers, parliaments and the private sector,” said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. Only 15 per cent of SDGs are on track to be achieved by 2030. ...  Read more »

The global shipping industry is aligning businesses to limit the impacts of climate change, according to executives at the Nor-Shipping conference in Oslo in June, ahead of Government negotiations in July when the International Maritime Organization is expected to adopt a draft strategy on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “Governments must now match private sector ambition by working with the International Maritime Organization to align on an ambitious decarbonization goal,” said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact...  Read more »

The UN Global Compact released a brief on Just Transition and Renewable Energy, with guidance for businesses and Governments on moving away from fossil fuels while leaving no one behind. It includes an advocacy agenda to influence policies and showcases best practices. “This brief outlines actions to accelerate the pace of a just renewable energy transition that can drive sustainable economic and energy sector diversification,” said Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director and CEO of the UN Global Compact......  Read more »

The Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), a platform connecting leaders to invest in the continent’s economic growth, was introduced to South Africa at the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Business Forum in April. GABI will support energy access and transition, digital transformation and inclusive growth and trade. “GABI seeks to address challenges unique to Africa and catalyze long-term solutions,“ said Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director and CEO of the UN Global Compact.....  Read more »