2016 is a year of action: the United Nations, Governments, Business and Civil Society are coming together to jump-start progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2016 the UN Private Sector Forum focused on the role of business in advancing sustainable development to prevent global instability. Hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Forum was organized in collaboration with the Co-Chairs of the United Nations High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly to address Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants.

Investors are increasingly looking at ESG factors to minimize risks and help identify business opportunities. Join the discussion between a LEAD company and the Principles for Responsible Investment on the value of ESG considerations. During the discussion 2 key resources will be highlighted; the recently launched PRI guide '"Practical Guide to ESG integration for Equity Investment" aimed to help investors on how to use ESG data, and the Value Driver Model tool which utilizes key business metrics to determine the return on investment of corporate sustainability activities.

The key elements of a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders, and a effective investment and operating environment for business, are closely intertwined. Human rights and environmental defenders, journalists, lawyers, and anti-corruption campaigners are key agents of change, and they contribute greatly to safeguard human rights and the rule of law. As such, both companies and human rights defenders have a shared interest in an environment which respects the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, and is characterised by non-discrimination, transparent and accountable government, freedom from corruption, and respect for the rule of law. Regrettably, the operating environment for defenders is becoming increasingly restrictive and dangerous in many countries. These countries include those in which corporations, with policies on human rights, increasingly operate and invest. Jointly hosted by the UN Global Compact, the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) and the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), this webinar will provide an overview of the increasing restrictions faced by civil society and human rights defenders, explore some of the drivers and benefits of business action in their support and protection, and discuss emerging good practices related to business and human rights defenders.

The Child Labour Platform (CLP), a business-led, cross sectoral forum for exchange and collaboration to tackle child labour in supply chains, holds a webinar for its members and those of the UN Global Compact Human Rights and Labour Working Group. The discussion, Decent Work in Global Supply Chains, identifies the key topics of debate among the Committee members and assesses the implications of the Committee’s far reaching conclusions for the ILO’s current and future work related to GSCs.

Aims to help Global Compact Local Networks get involved in their country's development of a National Action Plan on business and Human Rights. The guide provides basic information about National Action Plans, outlines the countries that have or are in the process of developing them, sets out the various opportunities available to Local Networks to get engaged, and lists additional resources that can be referred to for more information.

Convened in support of the UN Secretary-General’s Zero Hunger Challenge as the second in a series of Global Dialogues on food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture, this webinar features expert and practitioner insights on ending rural poverty through sustainable livelihoods and decent rural employment. A multi-stakeholder discussion identifies key areas where business can have a positive impact, and ways in which companies, individually or in partnership, can support small-scale food producers to double their income and productivity and sustainably feed a growing population.

Companies have an internationally recognized responsibility to respect human rights and to develop a suitable training program to ensure that employees are equipped to help reduce the risk of human rights harm. Nearly all companies have existing training on anti-bribery and anticorruption. But human rights training encompasses a broader employee group and a broader scope of responsibility, presenting a uniquely challenging training environment. This Good Practice Note highlights different approaches for designing effective human rights training programs and identify challenges that can be avoided with proper planning.

Showcases industry-specific examples and ideas for corporate action related to the SDGs. Presented in a series of publications, each matrix will highlight bold pursuits and decisions made by diverse companies for each SDG.

Summary of the 2016 LEAD Symposium which convened LEAD companies, plus a hand-picked group of exponential thought leaders, and next generation innovators and entrepreneurs. Held at the historic Cambridge Union, participants explored new and more ambitious pathways for the scale and pace of radical innovation and market transformation required to achieve the future we need.

Assesses the contribution of business-focused initiatives of the Global Climate Action Agenda to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By providing this analysis, the report seeks to catalyze business action on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and demonstrate the potential collective impact of the assessed initiatives on emissions.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a blueprint for significantly changing the world by 2030, and the Investor Relations community can play a key role in turning these aspirational goals into reality. Reports show the level of investment needed to achieve the SDGs is approximately $5 to $7 trillion globally per year from 2015 to 2030, and investor relations can be a driving force behind the incorporation of strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices into business strategies and operations. On this episode of Business of Tomorrow, we interview three experts on the obstacles and opportunities of engaging the investment community in achieving long-term, sustainable capital markets and the importance of investor relations leadership for the SDGs. You can listen to this episode below or search for United Nations Global Compact/Business of Tomorrow on your smartphone podcast app.

Aimed at mobilizing the private sector to become a catalyst for enhancing and deepening country-level action to meet the ambitions set out by the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Building on the decade’s work of Caring for Climate, the platform will provide companies the opportunity to make progress on scaling responsible climate action that contributes to the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national SDG plans. Practically, the platform seeks to provide a safe space for companies to review, re-align, and recalibrate their corporate goals, strategies, and public policy efforts to inform and ramp up climate ambition into the development plans of governments.