Global Compact Network Canada (GCNC), the Canadian network of the United Nations Global Compact, is hosting “Making Global Goals Local Business – Canada”, a two-day conference that aims to accelerate progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Canada, taking place on September 9th & 10th 2019 at the Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto.
Organized in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact as part of the UN’s Making Global Goals Local Business campaign, this event will provide an opportunity for private sector leaders to share best practices and learn from others operating in the same business environment.
The two-day event will bring together corporate and sustainability leaders from more than 100 Canadian businesses, alongside the Canadian Global Compact network, national leaders from civil society, federal and provincial governments, and the United Nations. It serves as a unique opportunity for Canadian business leaders and corporate sustainability frontrunners to showcase their efforts and contributions – both at a national and international level – in achieving the Global Goals.
“We know that the only way to truly make the Global Goals a reality by 2030 is to focus on collaboration and impact on the ground,” said Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. “By taking conversations from the global to the national level, these Making Global Goals Local Business events will focus on how global strategies translate into local solutions to help achieve the Goals.”
“Our participation in this Global Compact Network Canada conference provides Scotiabank with the opportunity to both demonstrate the important leadership role we believe the private sector can play in advancing sustainability goals, and to learn and be inspired by others,” said Brendan Seale, Chief Sustainability Officer at Scotiabank, and one of the featured speakers at this conference. “Financial services support economic progress, allow people to pursue ambitions and create more widespread future opportunities. Scotiabank delivers on this through our focus on Sustainable Business and that’s why our involvement in the conference is a natural one.” Scotiabank will be the official host sponsor of this conference.
Some key themes of the conference include:
- Innovative business solutions and opportunities for strategic public-private partnerships in advancing the SDGs
- Perspectives and outlook from the Canadian C-Suite on the 2030 Agenda
- Advancement of technology and its impact on the future of work
- How businesses can avoid “SDG-washing” in their quest to embrace corporate sustainability practices
It is hoped that through sparking multi-stakeholder discussions at the conference, Canadian corporate and government leaders in attendance will be able to share their insights around complex and interconnected sustainabwility issues, explore new market opportunities, and innovate around the Global Goals.
About the Global Compact Network Canada
Global Compact Network Canada (GCNC) is the Canadian network of the United Nations Global Compact – a network of companies and organizations who are committed to spearheading sustainable business solutions and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The GCNC supports corporate sustainability among Canadian businesses by spearheading the SDGs and the 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact. In doing so, it unifies and builds the capacity of the Canadian private sector to embrace sustainable business practices by convening and accelerating opportunities for peer-learning, innovation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
To learn more about GCNC, visit our website www.globalcompact.ca and follow us on social media @globalcompactCA
About the United Nations Global Compact
As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact works with companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact guides and supports the global business community in advancing UN goals and values through responsible corporate practices. With more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and 70 Local Networks, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world.
For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at unglobalcompact.org.