On 25 June 2015 one of GRLI’s two founding partners, the United Nations Global Compact, celebrated its 15th anniversary at the UN Global Compact +15: Business as a Force for Good event held at United Nations headquarters in New York City.
During this event Partners, Members and Associates of GRLI counted among over 1, 000 participants — including business executives and leaders from the investment community, civil society, Government and the United Nations — that met to discuss how the private sector is taking action and partnering to advance societal priorities.
During a plenary session in the UN General Assembly Hall it was highlighted how, through the UN Global Compact, business is already working to advance important sustainable development goals in the environmental, social and governance arenas. Speakers pointed to the need to maximize the business contribution to society by ramping up partnerships, local action, and engagement with key sustainability drivers such as investors, educators and regulators. It was also pointed out that the private sector stands ready to support and implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) when they are adopted by Member States in September.
Speakers included UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Georg Kell, Unilever CEO Paul Polman and one of GRLI’s partners and Dean of the College of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes. Julia spoke about how management education can act as a force for good focusing on the role of Business Schools and education in promoting a sustainable future. To watch Julia’s speech, please view the video below (her speech starts at: 1:31:04).https://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1722935254001?bctid=4323781197001&secureConnections=true&secureHTMLConnections=true&linkSrc=twitter&autoStart=false&height=100%25&width=100%25
The event also included the launch of the report Impact: Transforming Business, Changing the World, produced by the classification/certification body and technical assurance provider DNV GL, and provides one of the most comprehensive analyses of the corporate sustainability movement to date. The UNGC 15th Anniversary Celebration Dinner paid tribute to the contributions of Georg Kell, outgoing Executive Director of UNGC and welcomed incoming UNGC Executive Director Ms. Lise Kingo who will be leading the initiative as of 1 September 2015.
