Companies and investors are increasingly working together to address major global challenges. The adoption of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in private investments is evolving from a risk management practice to a driver of innovation and new opportunities that create long-term value for business and society. Promoting ESG adoption throughout the investment value chain can encourage greater private investment in sustainable development, resulting in greater impact.
The various actors in the investment value chain, including investors, banks and companies, have been increasingly including ESG and sustainability information in their reporting processes. It will be important to create an enabling environment for sustainability and integrated reporting to flourish.
Principle-based voluntary initiatives are critical to further mainstream corporate sustainability and responsible investment. The ESG efforts by the various private actors are consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but need to be leveraged further to achieve stronger outcomes. The elements for an ESG coalition are in place. In addition to the UN Global Compact, a number of principle-based, voluntary ESG initiatives are starting to gain traction throughout the private investment chain, including:
- Principles for Responsible Investment: representing asset managers and asset owners with well over US $45 trillion in capital
- UNEP Finance Initiative: with over 200 institutions, including banks, insurers and fund managers
- Equator Principles: a coalition of banking and similar financial institutions incorporating environmental and social risk into project finance transactions, covering over 70 per cent of all international project finance debt in emerging markets
- Principles for Sustainable Insurance: a sustainability framework for the development of innovative risk management and insurance solutions
- Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative: a peer-to-peer learning platform for exploring how exchanges can work together with investors, regulators, and companies to enhance corporate transparency and ESG performance and encourage responsible long-term approaches to investment
- Brussels, Belgium
UN Global Compact meets at the EU Parliament to advance corporate sustainability
- New York, United States of America
UN Global Compact Launches 2024 SDG Pioneers Campaign to Recognize Outstanding Business Leaders Driving Sustainable Development
- New York, United States of America
Global Africa Business Initiative announces plans for Unstoppable Africa 2024 flagship event in New York
- New York, United States of America
The UN Global Compact welcomes the outcomes from the ILO meeting of experts on wage policies, including living wages
- New York, United States of America
UN Global Compact launches Guidebook to encourage companies to Empower Women in the Workplace
- New York, United States of America
Joint Statement at ILO meeting of experts on wage policies, including living wages
- New York, United States of America
UN Global Compact launches Transformational Governance Corporate Toolkit
- New York, United States of America
The UN Global Compact reiterates its support for efforts toward mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence worldwide
- New York, United States of America
Recognizing World Wetlands Day: Four steps for improving Water Resilience
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Office Hours: Communication on Progress
- Kigali, Rwanda
The UN Global Compact at the Africa CEO Forum 2024
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Office Hours: Communication on Progress