To assist in your preparation for the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum, the publications and online resources listed below provide further details about the event and each theme.
Explore new resources launched at the Forum.
This document was submitted by the UN Global Compact Office as input to the preparatory process of the Rio+20 outcome document. The submission highlights the role and potential of corporate sustainability – defined as a company’s delivery of long-term value in economic, social and environmental terms – in achieving development goals and recommends a variety of actions that Governments can take to bring scale and greater quality to this agenda.
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The official Rio+20 website provides information about the UN conference, its objectives, themes, the Governments and Major Groups that will participate, and related news and updates.
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UN-Business collaboration is not new, but the models of partnership have been evolving. A task force was formed to review the recent history of such partnerships, and to make recommendations for enhancing their effectiveness and scale. The report provides the recommendations of the group to both UN and business. (UNGC/Unilever/Dalberg, 2011)
The Framework aims to motivate and guide business engagement and action in support of the Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative. In keeping with the initiative’s 2030 targets, the Framework seeks to identify where different industries can have the most significant impact – through their core business operations as well as product and service development; through social investments and philanthropy; and through advocacy and public policy engagement. (UNGC, 2011)
Climate change will affect business and society in fundamental ways. It will change the context in which the private sector operates and its ability to prosper. However, climate change can also offer opportunities for business. "Caring for Climate: A Business Leadership Platform" helps companies to advance practical solutions and articulate climate strategies, share experiences and learn from industry peers, inform public policy as well as shape public attitudes. (UNGC/UNEP, revised 2010)
Presents the business case for private sector adaptation to climate change in ways that build the resilience of vulnerable communities in developing countries – and provides useful guidance to business leaders and policymakers alike. (UNGC/UNEP/Oxfam/WRI, 2011)
Analyses progress made by signatories in addressing climate change and assesses public disclosures of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The report outlines corporate leadership in climate mitigation and adaptation. (UNGC/Dalberg, 2010)
The DCED unites 21 donors and UN agencies that promote sustainable poverty alleviation through the development of a dynamic private sector. The DCED, particularly its Green Growth Working Group, intends to create initiatives enabling the private sector to generate environmentally sound and climate friendly growth in line with overall development goals such as job creation. Its members assist developing countries in taking appropriate policy responses to tap the private sector’s potential for green growth.
Outlines five principles for responsible business engagement in water policy: (1) responsible engagement should be driven by a genuine interest in efficient, equitable, and sustainable water management; (2) there should be a clear division of public and private sector roles; (3) responsible engagement promotes inclusiveness and meaningful partnership; (4) business should recognize the connections between water and other policy arenas; and (5) companies must be transparent and accountable for their actions. (UNGC/Pacific Institute, 2010)
In July 2010, the UN General Assembly recognized access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a human right. Two months later, the UN Human Rights Council affirmed this right by a consensus resolution. This white paper is designed to provide information that will inform both how individual companies can respect the human right to water, as well as how the Mandate itself can meaningfully contribute to business’ ability to effectively address this issue. (UNGC/Pacific Institute, 2010)
This guide features 37 examples of good practices in seven areas relating to food sustainability: water management; agricultural inputs and infrastructure; financial mechanisms and risk management instruments; nutrition; energy and biofuels; information and communication technology; and job opportunities for low-income populations. It provides suggested actions for businesses and governments to take to contribute in these areas. (UNGC with a broad alliance of collaborators, 2008)
Web-based modules integrate exercises and case studies on current trends and expectations towards business on implementation of human rights principles, as reflected in the UN Protect-Respect-Remedy Framework. Upon successful completion of a test of the learning tool content users have the opportunity to obtain a certificate. (UNGC/OHCHR, 2011)
Provides instruction on how businesses can develop and implement a human rights policy within their companies. (UNGC, 2010)
A set of principles for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. They emphasize the business case for corporate action to promote gender equality and women's empowerment and seek to point the way to best practice by elaborating the gender dimension of good corporate citizenship, the Global Compact, and the role of business in sustainable development. (UNGC/UNIFEM, 2010)
Guides business on how to avoid being implicated in human trafficking through the use of their products, services or facilities, as well as how to make a positive contribution. (UNGC/UN.GIFT/ILO/IOM, 2010)
The purpose of this guide is to increase the understanding of the four labour principles as well as to provide an inventory of key resources to help integrate these principles into business operations. (UNGC/ILO, 2008)
Outlines common supply chain corruption scenarios and provides a framework and set of tools for addressing them. (UNGC, 2010)
The guidance is the most succinct, practical guide currently available to what anti-corruption aspects companies should report on. It equips business with a practical means to report on anti-corruption policies and actions comprehensively and effectively, as public reporting sends a strong signal to employees, investors and consumers, that a company is serious about clean business. (UNGC, Transparency International, 2009)
The Guidance aims to assist companies in implementing responsible business practices in conflict-affected and high-risk areas consistent with the Global Compact Ten Principles. The focus is to provide a common reference point for constructive dialogue between companies and investors on what constitutes responsible business practices in difficult operating environments. This voluntary guidance is designed to stimulate learning and dialogue and to promote collective action and innovative partnerships through Global Compact Local Networks and other initiatives. It was developed by the United Nations Global Compact Office, the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) initiative and an expert group comprised of company representatives, investors, civil society leaders, UN representatives and others. (UNGC/PRI, 2010)
The report explores how donors can effectively support public-private collaboration in order to attract sustainable investments and foster development in the Least Developed Countries. To this end, the report takes stock of existing donor programs aimed at engaging the private sector in development activities, identifies shortcomings and promising approaches, and offers recommendations on how donor programs can attract more public-private collaboration to the Lest Developed Countries. (UNGC/UNDP/Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2011)
Emphasizes the second objective of the Global Compact by articulating how companies can support development objectives through their core business; strategic social investments; advocacy; partnerships and collective action. Available Global Compact platforms for business to support development goals are identified and examples of how companies are already contributing to this agenda are showcased. (UNGC, 2010)
Presents a blueprint and practical guidance for advancing sustainability in cities around the world through the Global Compact Ten Principles. Case examples of how various cities around the world are addressing issues such as climate change, slum rehabilitation, water management and the prevention of unethical behaviour are presented. (UNGC/RMIT, 2010)
There is a growing view among investment professionals that ESG issues affect the performance of investment portfolios. Investors fulfilling their fiduciary (or equivalent) duty therefore need to give appropriate consideration to these issues, but to date have lacked a framework for doing so. The Principles for Responsible Investment, jointly developed by a group of the world's largest institutional investors, provide this framework. The principles are voluntary and aspirational. They are not prescriptive, but instead provide a menu of possible actions for incorporating ESG issues into mainstream investment decision-making and ownership practices. (UNGC/UNEP-FI, 2006)
A set of voluntary principles to guide the ongoing practice of social investment by organizations, seeking to increase the impact and scalability of such contributions. (UNGC/St. James Ethics Centre/CECP, 2010)
