Dialogue Forums

 

 

Since 2007, UNEP has initiated dialogue forums with the UNGC in the form of Business for the Environment (B4E) Summits. The most recent took place in April, 2010 in the Republic of South Korea and brought together 1,000 delegates from 300 companies and approximately 35 countries. The 1st B4E global summit was held in Singapore in April 2007 (see www.b4e07.com). Attended by 800 representatives, the two day event involved senior managers from the private and public sector in discussion on new best practices, responsible investment, sustainable tourism, the global water crisis and climate change. With media support from CNN, Time Warner and others, the event was held alongside the UNEP Champions of the Earth award event. The Global Compact Local Network in Singapore saw more than 40 Singapore based companies sign up for the UNGC during a public signing ceremony held at the Summit. The Third B4E Summit washeld in Paris from 22-23 April 2009.

UNEP along with the Global Compact Office periodically hosts Global Compact Policy Dialogues to provide a platform for all Global Compact stakeholders to discuss the challenges of globalisation, corporate responsibility and environmental issues. The Global Compact Policy Dialogues aspire to:

  1. Create an international platform to facilitate mutual understanding and joint efforts among the representatives of national and international companies, academic institutions, NGO's, government, business associations and UN officials;

  2. Provide a neutral forum for constructive engagement and collective problem solving that will generate innovative and practical solutions with the potential for influencing policy making and the behaviour of all stakeholders; and to

  3. Facilitate the development of collective or individual outcomes that can be translated into action by participants.

In 2004 we co-organised a Global Compact Policy Dialogue on "Sustainable Consumption: Marketing and Communications". This Dialogue resulted in the publication in 2005 of "Talk the Walk". This publication, with its analysis of examples from participating companies, is available online.

In 2002 UNEP and the Global Compact Office co-organised a Global Compact Policy Dialogue on "Business and Sustainable Development". This event spearheaded the start of the "Growing Sustainable Business Initiative" (UNDP) and the development of the Global Compact Performance Model.

For more details and the meeting reports go to dialogue 2002 or dialogue 2004

 
Talk the Walk - Advancing Sustainable Lifestyles through Marketing & Communications
(December 2005)

Links
UN Global Compact
Talkthewalk.net