• Home
  • /Corporate
  • /The UN Global Compact: Transforming Business, Changing the World
The UN Global Compact: Transforming Business, Changing the World

The UN Global Compact: Transforming Business, Changing the World

In 1999, then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued a challenge to the private sector at the World Economic Forum in Davos:

“I want to challenge you to join me in taking our relationship to a still higher level. I propose that you, the business leaders gathered in Davos, and we, the United Nations, initiate a global compact of shared values and principles, which will give a human face to the global market.”

In 2000, to make this vision a reality, the UN Global Compact was launched.

Since then, the UN Global Compact has grown to become the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, working with business to transform our world, aiming to create a sustainable and inclusive global economy that delivers lasting benefits to all people, communities and markets. It now counts over 12,000 participants in over 160 countries.

 

What is the UN Global Compact?

 

The UN Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align strategies and operations with ten universal sustainability principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption, and to take actions that advance societal goals. It is both a platform for demonstrating commitment and leadership on sustainability, and a practical framework to guide implementation.

In addition to its work around its ten core principles, the UN Global Compact has a number of additional engagement platforms to mobilise business action and collaboration on critical issues – the Women’s Empowerment Principles, Children’s Rights and Business Principles, Business for Peace, CEO Water Mandate and Caring for Climate. The UN Global Compact is also leading business engagement in the Sustainable Development Goals.

In Australia, the business-led Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA) brings together Australian signatories to the UN Global Compact, including a number of Australia’s leading companies, non-profits and universities, to advance corporate sustainability in Australia and wherever our companies have a footprint. We do this through a platform for dialogue, learning and influence that is inclusive, practical and leading edge, supporting our companies’ practical implementation efforts and bringing the UN Global Compact to life in the Australian context.

 

Why do companies join?

 

The UN Global Compact provides a universal language for corporate responsibility and provides a framework to guide all businesses regardless of size, complexity or location. Whether a company is already a global sustainability leader, or at the beginning of its sustainability journey, the UN Global Compact allows it to tell its sustainability story through an established, globally recognised, UN-backed framework. Companies tell us they benefit from engagement in a number of ways:

  • Unprecedented networking access with UN Global Compact experts and participants locally and globally;
  • Access to dialogue and partnerships with a range of stakeholders – to share best practices and emerging solutions;
  • Best practice guidance – built on 15 years of successes;
  • Tools, resources and training; and
  • The moral authority, knowledge and experience of the United Nations.

How do companies get involved?

 

The UN Global Compact is not a compliance initiative, but focuses on continuous improvement and engagement.

Companies that sign up to the UN Global Compact are expected to:

  • set in motion changes to business operations so that the UN Global Compact and its principles become part of strategy, culture and day-to-day operations;
  • publicly advocate the UN Global Compact and its principles; and
  • annually communicate on progress in implementing the UN Global Compact principles through a public report (e.g., sustainability or annual report).

Companies that sign up are then able to join the Global Compact Network Australia, and other country-based Global Compact local networks.

 

Which Australian companies are involved?

 

The GCNA counts a number of Australia’s leading companies, as well as industry associations, non-profits and universities, as its members.

Our members include Accenture, Allens, An Mea International, ANZ Bank, Australia Post, Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, Bank Australia, BHP Billiton, BPW Australia, Brambles, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, David Jones, Deloitte, EY, Fairtrade Australia & NZ, Fortescue Metals Group, Futureye, Generation Alliance, GHD, Glencore Coal, Griffith University, Innovia Security, International SOS, Intrepid Travel, KPMG, La Trobe Universtiy, Landell, Lend Lease, Monash University, National Australia Bank, Nestle Australia, Oil Search, Optus, Paper Force, Plan International, PwC, RedR Australia, Republic of Everyone, Rio Tinto, RMIT University, Shell, SMEC Holdings, Solaris Paper, Stockland, Tata Consultancy Services, Telstra, The GPT Group, Transurban, University of Melbourne, Visy Industries, WaterAid Australia, Wesfarmers, Westpac, Woolworths, World Vision Australia, WorleyParsons and Yarra Valley Water.

How do I find out more?

 

If you’d like to learn more about the UN Global Compact and how you can get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch at secretariat@unglobalcompact.org.au or sign up to the GCNA newsletter.

Share this post:

Deja un comentario

Tu dirección de correo electrónico no será publicada. Los campos obligatorios están marcados con *

*