CARING FOR CLIMATE GAINS MOMENTUM AS BUSINESS LEADERS GATHER IN BALI TO DISCUSS

CLIMATE CHANGE, AT EVENT HOSTED BY UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT

BALI, 10 December (Global Compact Office) -- More than 90 representatives from business, United Nations agencies and Governments gathered in Bali today for a business dinner hosted by the United Nations Global Compact, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  The event took place in the context of a business day at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, held from 3 to 14 December.

The purpose of the dinner was to present an update on Caring for Climate:  The Business Leadership Platform, an initiative launched by the Global Compact in July.  More than 200 corporate signatories of the Global Compact have joined the new platform, which calls on both business and Governments to take immediate action on climate change.  The dinner highlighted several examples of business engagement and leadership related to the climate challenge, showcasing pragmatic solutions for a low-carbon future from all sectors and regions.

The dinner’s keynote address was delivered by Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Change.  In her speech, Dr. Brundtland encouraged businesses to share experiences, stimulate each other and make their voices heard and actions seen.  “One way to do this is Caring for Climate, the Platform that the Global Compact, together with the WBCSD and UNEP, has created.  By subscribing to it, on paper and in practice, you can demonstrate leadership and action and give recognition to the idea that it is in the best interest of business to play its part in increasing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions,” Dr. Brundtland said.

Other speakers included UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner; WBCSD President Björn Stigson; President and Chief Operating Officer of Indonesia’s APRIL Group A.J. Devanesan; and Global Compact Board Member Toshio Arima of Japan.

The dinner was hosted by WBCSD, UNEP and the Global Compact, with the support of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd.

Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact brings business together with United Nations agencies, labour, civil society and Governments to advance 10 universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.  Through the power of collective action, the Global Compact seeks to mainstream these 10 principles in business activities around the world and to catalyse actions in support of broader United Nations goals.  With over 3,600 participating companies and hundreds of other stakeholders from more than 120 countries, it is the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative.  For more information, please visit www.unglobalcompact.org.

Media contact:  Eleonore Kopera, Partnerships and Public Affairs Manager, United Nations Global Compact Office, e-mail:  kopera@un.org, tel.:  1 212 963 3866.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record