26 June 2015: Marking its 15th anniversary, the UN Global Compact convened a meeting titled ‘Business as a Force for Good,’ bringing together business and civil society to illustrate how the private sector is taking action and partnering to advance societal priorities, as well as the UN’s post-2015 development agenda. During the meeting, Global Compact platforms and working groups convened their respective annual events, while smaller meetings focused on how to contribute to achieving the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The meeting took place from 23-25 June 2015, in New York, US. Sessions focused on, inter alia: identifying key obstacles to greater private sector action in support of the post-2015 development agenda; and defining pathways to enhance impact, including through innovative partnership models.

During a special session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), participants underscored the private sector’s role in solving global challenges; and how the Global Compact’s work is “at the heart” of the UN agenda. A special dinner celebrated the Global Compact’s achievements over the past 15 years, and honored both UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Ban said the business community and the private sector can make a difference as the new sustainability agenda is being formulated by governments. “What began as a simple call to action has become a global force for good,” he said, referring to the role that business is playing in addressing global challenges. He added that the SDGs offer “an extraordinary pipeline for investment” and a platform where business can thrive.

Ban cautioned against calling publicly for climate action while working behind the scenes against sensible climate-friendly legislation.

UNGA President Sam Kutesa advocated for finding innovative ways of scaling up investments that contribute to equitable and sustainable growth and development, and suggested that more private capital is required for investment in such sectors as energy and infrastructure.

Georg Kell, outgoing Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, said in an interview with the UN News Centre that a challenge has been to “win over” companies, convincing them that going global is not just about short-term profits and the cheapest allocation or sourcing capabilities. He said for future success, businesses must integrate environmental, social and governance issues into their strategic thinking and operations.

Ban appointed Lise Kingo of Denmark as new Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, as of 1 September. Kingo, former Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff at Novo Nordisk, will be tasked with engaging businesses worldwide in implementing the proposed SDGs.

In celebration of its 15th anniversary, the Global Compact launched a new website, designed to: support business at all stages along the corporate sustainability journey; make the business case for corporate sustainability; illustrate how companies can engage on specific issues, such as gender equality and climate; and provide ideas for leadership practices, such as engaging boards of directors and setting long-term sustainability goals.

The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, and is based on ten core principles of promoting human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. It covers more than 8,000 companies and 4,000 other signatories in 170 countries. The Compact grew from a speech given by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the World Economic Forum in the late 1990s in which he called on business, in the era of globalization, to take on more responsibility, and build on the social, environmental and governance pillars, rather than just look for profit. [UN Global Compact Website] [Global Compact+15 Event Webpage] [UN Press Release] [UN News Centre Interview with Georg Kell] [Permanent Mission of Denmark Press Release] [UN Global Compact Press Release]