The third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), held from 9 to 13 June in Nice, France, was a landmark moment for ocean sustainability. Co-hosted by Costa Rica and France, the conference united various stakeholders to tackle urgent ocean issues: biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, overfishing and decarbonization of maritime industries. A major highlight was the formal launch of the Ocean Investment Protocol (OIP)—a joint initiative by the UN Global Compact and UNEP FI. Initially introduced during the Ocean Investment Protocol Webinar, this pioneering framework was developed to mobilize private capital toward a sustainable ocean economy by guiding financial institutions and ocean industries in aligning investments with global sustainability goals....  Read more »

Stock exchanges across 14 countries joined the first-ever Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality initiative throughout May. The initiative also emphasized the commemoration of the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia designated each year on 17 May. Spearheaded by a coalition of global partners including the UN Global Compact, UN Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative (UN SSE) and Koppa - The LGBTI+ Economic Power Lab, the campaign calls for inclusive economies and equal rights for LGBTIQ+ people. This global action signals rising leadership accountability and the business case for dignity, inclusion and economic empowerment for all....  Read more »

Leaders Summit 2025 will take place on 23 September. This is your opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices and collaborate on bold solutions to advance responsible business and accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Pre-sale rates for the Leaders Summit end in less than a month: 21 May 2025. This is the best time to secure your ticket at the most affordable rate. Register now and lock in the lowest available rate to attend this full day of collaboration, innovation and action....  Read more »

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 »