27 February 2012: In a message to the “Board of Boards CEO Conference,” UN Global Compact Executive Director Georg Kell, on behalf of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, highlighted that the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) is a major opportunity for the private sector to showcase its contributions towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Underlining that the world is at a critical juncture economically, socially and environmentally, Ban invited business leaders to work more closely with the UN, including through the Global Compact corporate sustainability initiative. He further urged them to explore what more they can do to support economic and social development for the world’s most vulnerable populations, stressing that, “Doing well by doing good has become an accepted business principle.” [UN Secretary-General’s Message][2012 CEO Conference Website]