Business Case

An overview of the business case for Caring for Climate and how the Global Compact is supporting business efforts.

• Caring for Climate Business Case

Learning

Inspire participants’ organizational learning, and support companies to develop and implement corporate sustainability strategies, operations and management practices in line with the Global Compact Ten Principles. Read more about Learning.

• Caring for Climate Learning Presentation Slides
• Caring for Climate Template Agenda
• Caring for Climate Q&A

Learning Activities

• Together with UNEP and UNFCCC local offices and other partners, convene outreach events to promote the Caring for Climate (C4C) platform and raise awareness around key climate change issues, and the role business can play in advancing climate action
• Translate materials and localize content.
• Host workshops and seminars focused on the specialized workstreams of C4C(e.g. climate adaptation) that are relevant to the local context
• Collect and showcase good practice examples of companies implementing key aspects of C4C (e.g. carbon emission)
• Convene workshops and offer support to companies on the implementation of effective climate policies and practices, including how to communicate efforts in the annual Communication on Progress

Learning Benefits

• Increased number of C4C signatories (click here for information on how companies can join C4C)
• Enhanced understanding of the tools and resources available for corporate participants to assess and improve carbon footprint
• Increased understanding of the importance of climate issues and C4C
• Increased quality of reporting, evidenced by inclusion of climate-related topics in the annual communication on progress

Learning Local Examples

• In partnership with the Global Compact and the Ministry of Environment of Poland, Global Compact Network Poland coordinated the national launch of the Caring for Climate initiative in 2013. Over 100 representatives from Polish and foreign companies, embassies, UN agencies and environmental institutions convened to establish a common platform for decreasing the impacts of climate change. The inauguration took place in the presence of the Minister of Environment. Over the course of the year the Polish Network also hosted several events and initiated the Brandbility project. The project focuses on the theme of waste generated during the process of rebranding and remodeling a company’s image. It aims to increase public awareness, particularly among entrepreneurs, about sustainable brand management.
• The fifth annual Global Compact China-Japan-Korea Roundtable Conference was held during the China Climate Summit. The three-day conference, “Caring for Climate – Ecological Civilization & Beautiful Home,” was attended by approximately 200 participants including business, Government, civil society, academia and youth representatives from all three countries. Executive Director Georg Kell opened the conference with a message of support for regional collaboration, stressing the importance of Local Networks as key players in addressing global issues in a local context. The conference provided a formal learning and collaboration platform for the three networks on three themes: 1) Youth CSR Conference; 2) Researchers’ Meeting; and 3) business best practices on environmental agenda. Youth representatives from China, Japan and Republic of Korea presented the outcomes of their prior online discussions on sustainable development and demonstrated their support of the government and business commitments to address climate change in a signed youth statement. The conference selected Corporate Social Responsibility Youth Ambassadors to promote corporate sustainability in their communities and among their peers. Through the lens of youth, academia, and businesses, the conference facilitated interactive discussion among various stakeholders and called for collective action to address ongoing climate issues.

Policy Dialogue

Aim to bring businesses and other stakeholders together to exchange best practices, identify new and emerging issues; promote multi-stakeholder trust and interaction; and support advocacy to policymakers. Read more about Policy Dialogue.

• General Policy Dialogue Presentation Slides

Policy Dialogue Activities

• Host events/workshops focused on sharing best practices and challenges to advance C4C workstreams (e.g. climate adaptation)
• Organize multi-stakeholder dialogues related to advancing national environmental priorities and/or policy agendas
• Mobilize businesses in the lead up to annual meetings of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) through events and workshops, and facilitate corporate participation in the Private Sector Track of the COP Meeting convened by C4C

Policy Dialogue Benefits

• Identification of recommendations from companies to policymakers on actions that could help increase the scale and impact of business on climate policies and practices
• Greater corporate climate action within the Local Network as a result of increased dialogue and exchange of best practices
• Evidence of Local Network convening power on climate change and environmental sustainability issues

Policy Dialogue Local Examples

• The Global Compact Network China hosted the first Caring for Climate China Summit in Beijing, themed “Ecological Civilization and Beautiful Home.” During the summit, held in July 2013, participating business leaders reached a consensus to sign the Declaration of Chinese Business on Caring for Climate. The youth representatives from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea also signed the Declaration of Youth in China on Caring for Climate. In addition, board secretaries from one hundred publicly listed Chinese companies signed the Declaration from Secretary to the Board of China’s Listed Companies’ Commitment on Building Ecological Civilization and Implement CSR.

Collective Action & Partnerships

Through partnerships, private and public actors can combine their resources, skills and expertise to enhance results and impact. With collective action multiple companies join forces to engage in identifying, developing and implementing innovative solutions to systematic challenges. Read more about Collective Action.

• General Collective Action & Partnerships Presentation Slides

Collective Action Activities

• In collaboration with partner organizations, convene/facilitate an industry discussion on climate issues to gain a common understanding and potentially develop a forward-looking, actionable agenda
• Promote and facilitate use of the Climate and Energy Action Hub by business
• Collect and showcase issue-specific commitments through the Climate and Energy Action Hub around major events such as the annual Caring for Climate meeting

Collective Action Benefits

• Increased number of companies understanding specific actions they can undertake to advance climate action
• Increased cooperation of champion companies on country-specific climate recommendations and best practices
• Increased number of climate projects posted on the Climate and Energy Action Hub
• Increased opportunities for collaboration between Local Network and other stakeholders with interest in the climate change agenda such as environment ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, or other foundations

Collective Action Local Examples

• The Global Compact Network Kenya organized a series of workshops in four regions – Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret and Nakuru – to create awareness on mounting climate change risks. An average of 60 attendees participated at each meeting The workshops equipped participants with the skills for planning, managing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on climate change projects. In addition, the Kenyan Network and Kenya Association of Manufacturers co-hosted a breakfast meeting on climate change. Primary focus areas included the business case for private sector engagement on climate change, and standards on climate change mitigation and adaption. A case study was presented about a local company that produces pens and pencils from recycled newspapers, and promotes environmental conservation and economic empowerment.
• In collaboration with strategic partners, Global Compact Network Brazil convened a meeting on the environment. Over 60 participants from various companies gathered to draft ten proposals for greater action on environmental issues, five of which pertained to sustainable production and consumption and the remaining five on reducing environmental impacts. Four of the ten proposals were incorporated during the National Conference in Environment, organized by the Ministry of Environment.