Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged action on climate change and other shared international concerns in an address to the Global Compact Leaders Summit -- a gathering in Geneva of business leaders, government ministers, and heads of civil society groups committed to United Nations principles.
"This Summit is an important opportunity to take our partnership forward -- in learning as well as action," Mr. Ban told those assembled from over 90 countries. "Over these two days, we must make an honest appraisal of what the Global Compact has achieved, renew our commitments, and chart a courageous course for the next three years."
The Secretary-General stressed the importance of joint actions to address climate change and announced the planned launch of a Business Leadership Platform on "Caring for Climate" -- a joint project with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Mr. Ban recalled that since the Global Compact was launched in 2000 with 47 companies, it had grown to "what is today the world's largest corporate citizenship initiative, counting 4,000 stakeholders in 116 countries."
The Global Compact "has lived up to its promise -- bringing business together with other stakeholders, and infusing markets and economies with universal values," he said.
Participants, who are split almost evenly between developed and developing economies, "have taken thousands of actions in support of the Global Compact's ten principles" which relate to the environment and anti-corruption as well as human and labour rights.
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