U.N. Global Compact

The United Nations Global Compact is both a policy platform and a practical framework for companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. As a multi-stakeholder leadership initiative, it seeks to align business operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption and to catalyze actions in support of broader U.N. goals. With over 5,000 signatories in more than 130 countries, it is the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative.

The U.N. Global Compact has two objectives: mainstream the ten principles in business activities around the world and catalyze actions in support of broader U.N. goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Global Compact seeks to combine the best properties of the U.N., such as moral authority and convening power, with the private sector's solution-finding strengths, and the expertise and capacities of a range of key stakeholders. The initiative is global and local; private and public; voluntary yet accountable. The Global Compact's has a unique constellation of participants and stakeholders – bringing companies together with governments, civil society, labor, the United Nations, and other key interests.

Caring for Climate:

The Caring for Climate initiative – co-launched by the U.N. Global Compact, UNEP, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development – is a voluntary and complementary action platform for U.N. Global Compact participants who seek to demonstrate leadership on the issue of climate change. It provides a framework for business leaders to advance practical solutions and help shape public policy as well as public attitudes. Chief executive officers who support the statement are prepared to set goals, develop and expand strategies and practices, and to publicly disclose emissions as part of their existing disclosure commitment within the U.N. Global Compact framework.

Caring for Climate is a unique initiative that offers an interface for business and governments at the global level, with the potential of rapidly becoming the leading platform for pragmatic business solutions. Caring for Climate is now endorsed by more than 325 companies from over 65 countries.

Working Method:

The Global Compact is a leadership platform, endorsed by CEOs, and offering a unique strategic platform for participants to advance their commitments to sustainability and corporate citizenship. Structured as a public-private initiative, the Global Compact is policy framework for the development, implementation, and disclosure of sustainability principles and practices and offering participants a wide spectrum of specialized workstreams, management tools and resources, and topical programs and projects – all designed to help advance sustainable business models and markets in order to contribute to the initiative's overarching mission of helping to build a more sustainable and inclusive global economy.

Supported by:

The United Nations Global Compact is supported by voluntary contributions from governments donors to the Global Compact Trust Fund and companies to the Foundation for the Global Compact.