What is the objective of the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum? The United Nations Global Compact will organize the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum: Innovation & Collaboration for the Future We Want from 15-18 June in Rio de Janeiro – held in cooperation with the Rio+20 Secretariat, the UN System and the Global Compact Local Network Brazil. The key objective of the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum will be to bring greater scale and quality to corporate sustainability practices. As a showcase for innovation and collaboration, the Forum is designed to be a launching ground for widespread action. With over 2,000 expected participants, the Forum will give business and investors an opportunity to meet with governments, local authorities, civil society and UN entities in dozens of highly focused workshops and thematic sessions linked to the Rio+20 agenda. Sessions will have a common purpose and design: to spur action and stimulate greater uptake. Innovative public-private partnerships and business contributions will be showcased for each theme, with new commitments to sustainable development being announced.Read more about the Forum and the Agenda. What is the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)?The 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) seeks to build global political consensus on a pathway towards greater environmental, social and economic sustainability. Held from 20-22 June 2012, the Rio+20 Conference pursues three objectives: secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development; assess the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already agreed commitments; and address new and emerging challenges. The intergovernmental process leading into Rio+20 is driven by UN member states with full involvement of the UN system and Major Groups, and will result in a focused political document.The private sector plays a critical role in this endeavour. Rio+20 will set the sustainability agenda for the next decade, and we expect that the conference will issue a strong call for responsible and sustainable business practices – as promoted by the Global Compact. Learn more about Rio+20 and review the Rio+20 Conference Handbook.How is the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum linked to the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)?The 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) seeks to build global political consensus on a pathway towards greater environmental, social and economic sustainability. Held from 20-22 June 2012, the Rio+20 Conference pursues three objectives: secure renewed political commitment to sustainable development; assess the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already agreed commitments; and address new and emerging challenges. The intergovernmental process leading into Rio+20 is driven by UN member states with full involvement of the UN system and Major Groups, and will result in a focused political document. More information about Rio+20 is available here. In the days leading up to the Rio Conference, the Global Compact – in cooperation with the Rio+20 Secretariat, the UN System and the Global Compact Local Network Brazil – will organize the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum in Rio de Janeiro. Held from 15-18 June 2012, the Forum will feature dozens of highly-focused workshops and thematic sessions linked to the Rio+20 agenda and will provide a platform for participants to distil leading sustainability practices, innovations and collaborations, and announce new commitments. The Forum will also put forward recommendations for government actions that would help bring greater scale and quality to corporate sustainability globally.Read more about the Forum and the Agenda. Who will participate? With over 2,000 expected participants, the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum will give business and investors an opportunity to meet with governments, local authorities, civil society and UN entities in dozens of highly focused workshops and thematic sessions linked to the Rio+20 agenda. Participants will reflect the composition and regional distribution of the various stakeholder groups within the Global Compact, UN System, Global Compact Local Network Brazil and related external partner organizations. For more information about criteria for participation, click here.What is the format of the Forum?Held over four days at the Windsor Barra Hotel, the Forum will consist of dozens of focused sessions held in parallel on themes related to the Rio+20 agenda:
Events will be organized by a wide range of organizations, including the UN Global Compact; UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes; Global Compact Local Networks; and other selected partners – with over 100 sessions expected across all themes. Innovative public-private partnerships and business contributions will be showcased for each theme, with new commitments to sustainable development being announced.On the afternoon of 15 June, an opening plenary session will kick off the Forum – outlining sustainable development challenges and the role of the private sector. On 18 June, a closing plenary – Compact for Rio – will convene chief executives and Forum participants to distil leading sustainability practices, innovations and collaborations and to announce new commitments across all themes. The closing session will also put forward recommendations for government actions that would help bring greater scale and quality to corporate sustainability globally. Learn more about the Programme of the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum.Where will the Forum take place?The Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum will take place from 15-18 June 2012 at the Windsor Barra Hotel in Rio de Janeiro (Av. Lúcio Costa, 2630 - Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22620-172, Brazil). How do you register for the Forum?The Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum is by invitation only. Business participants and representatives from other stakeholder groups, including civil society and labour organizations, business associations, academic institutions, governments and United Nations entities, will be invited by the Global Compact Office directly. Forum invitations will be sent by the UN Global Compact and partners beginning in January 2012. Please note that registration will be confirmed by the Global Compact Office on a first-come, first-served basis. Invited guests are encouraged to register as soon as possible to take advantage of early registration rates. Security passes granting access to the Forum venue will only be issued to registered attendees.Read more about Registration for the Forum. If I am unable to attend, can I nominate someone else to attend in my place?If you are invited to the Corporate Sustainability Forum but you cannot attend, your invitation letter will set out how you can nominate a colleague to attend in your place. The Global Compact will review each nominee and send a confirmation email. Is there a registration fee?The Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum relies on sponsorships and contributions from participants. In order to complete the registration process, all participants must make a contribution to help cover the costs of the Forum. The amount of the contribution varies depending on the type and size of the organization.Read more about Registration for the Forum. Will there be speaking opportunities for my organization? The Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum is designed to maximize interaction and provides an opportunity to meet and network with other representatives of business, industry, investors, governments, local authorities, civil society and the UN. There will be a limited number of public speaking opportunities for business during the Forum, and candidates will be directly contacted by event organizers.As an individual, can I participate in the Forum?The Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum is by invitation only and is open to participants of the Global Compact and its sister initiatives, and selected participants invited by UN agencies or partners who are convening Forum sessions. We regret that we are unable to accommodate individual requests. Details outlining criteria for participation are available here.Can media attend the Forum?Yes. All of the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum’s sessions, unless otherwise noted, are open to journalists upon prior UN accreditation and registration for the event. Complete requirements for media participation are available here. Will there be interpretation?The Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum will be held in English. Depending on demand, translation services may be provided. For more information, please contact [email protected].Are there sponsorship opportunities for the Forum?Yes. The UN Global Compact is offering a limited number of sponsorships to cover the cost of the Forum. Please visit the Sponsors page for more a detailed overview of opportunities and benefits. Sponsorship Contacts: Claire Kells (+1.212.907.1309; [email protected]) Michelle Lau (+1.212.907.1392; [email protected])How can I make a hotel reservation?A limited number of rooms have been pre-reserved for participants at various hotels in Rio de Janeiro. Hotel information is only available for participants who have completed registration. Participants are strongly encouraged to secure hotel accommodation as early as possible in order to benefit from discounted rates and conditions, and due to overwhelming demand during the Rio+20 period.How do I obtain a visa?During the online registration for the Forum, participants will be prompted to check a box indicating whether they will need to apply for a travel visa to Brazil. Participants requiring a visa will subsequently receive via email a letter of support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Brazil once their Forum registration is completed. The letter should be submitted along with other documentation when applying for a visa. Participants are required to complete the visa application process and must visit the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website and select “Visa Request”. Please carefully read the directions on the website, as they provide detailed information about completing the form and the original documentation (including the letter of support from UNDP) that must be submitted to the Brazilian consulate in-person. Please note that passports must be valid for at least 90 days after the planned date of travel to Brazil.What is the Compact 4 Rio? How does this session relate to the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum and the inter-governmental session of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)? Compact 4 Rio will convene chief executives from the around the world as well as leaders from government, civil society and the United Nations to discuss and identify strategies for a new era of global sustainability. This high-level closing session will distil the outcomes of the four-day Corporate Sustainability Forum, which includes dozens of sessions held in parallel on Rio+20 themes: Energy & Climate, Water & Ecosystems, Agriculture & Food, Social Development, Urbanization & Cities, and Economics & Finance. Compact 4 Rio will identify the most promising business actions and commitments across Forum themes, and will put forward policy recommendations to governments to support corporate sustainability and public-private collaboration globally. In thematic roundtable discussions, leaders will be able to debate sustainability practices, partnerships and policies with peers.Who can participate in the Compact 4 Rio? All those registered for the Corporate Sustainability Forum are invited to attend the Compact 4 Rio. Given the emphasis on interactive dialogue through roundtable discussions, pre-registration is required and seating arrangements will be made according to relevant protocols. Those who would like to attend the Compact 4 Rio are kindly asked to indicate their interest in this session during registration for the Corporate Sustainability Forum. Participants should also indicate three preferred track themes. My organization’s CEO or Board Member is interested in attending the Compact 4 Rio. Is the event suitable for high-level executives? Yes. Seating arrangements will be made according to seniority. Chief executives and Board members will be seated with their peers. During the Compact 4 Rio, limited speaking opportunities are available for chief executives and other high-level participants only. To ensure high-quality networking, an exclusive, invitation-only cocktail reception will be held immediately following the Compact 4 Rio. Finally, CEOs and Board Members attending the Compact 4 Rio will also receive an invitation to attend the High-Level Luncheon on 19 June during the BASD Business Day. These invitations will be extended only to C-suite officers, ministers and other selected high-level guests. How do participants engage in a roundtable discussion during the Compact 4 Rio? When registering online, participants will be asked to choose three preferred track themes. Based on preference and seating availability, participants will be assigned to one of six thematic roundtables. Table seating will reflect the multi-stakeholder nature of the event.
