UN Private Sector Forum on Sustainable Energy for All launches new guidance for business to contribute to universal energy access, improved efficiency and greater share of renewables.
(New York) – The UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, today is launching a new framework for business to support UN efforts to improve energy access, drive energy efficiency and grow the share of renewable energy by 2030. The Framework for Business Action will be introduced at the 2011 UN Private Sector Forum on Sustainable Energy for All, a high-level gathering between chief executives and government, UN and civil society leaders, to be chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at UN Headquarters today.
Developed in collaboration with management consulting firm Accenture, the Framework aims to motivate and guide business engagement and action in support of the Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative, which will also be introduced at today’s Forum. 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.
“This new business framework offers much-needed inspiration as companies try to reconcile ever-growing energy demand with global sustainability challenges,” said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. “As the world gears up for next year’s Rio+20 Summit, it is efforts like this that will help business bring innovation to scale and contribute to a greener and more sustainable global economy.”
Between now and the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012, the Framework for Business Action will be further developed to guide new private-sector commitments and to set the direction for continued collaboration and partnerships.
Matthias Stausberg
Spokesperson, UN Global Compact
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About the 2011 UN Private Sector Forum
The UN Private Sector Forum on Sustainable Energy for All is organized by the UN Global Compact in collaboration with the UNIDO/UN-Energy. The Organizing Committee includes the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the UN Foundation. Speakers at this year’s Forum include Turkish prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Unilever CEO Paul Polman, and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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