Enel CEO Francesco Starace re-nominated to the Board of UN Global Compact for a second term
- Mr. Starace is the only member of the UN Global Compact Board to come from the global Power Utility sector, as well as the only member from Italy
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has re-appointed Francesco Starace, Enel Group’s CEO and General Manager, to the Board of the United Nations Global Compact (UN Global Compact) for the next three years (2018-2021). Mr. Starace was appointed for his first three-year mandate in May 2015. Of the new Board’s 21 members, Mr. Starace is the only representative of the global Power Utility sector, as well as the only member from Italy.
“Today as a society we face several very urgent issues and challenges. I am very proud to belong to the Board of the UN Global Compact which, through its vision and reach, not only sets out a clear roadmap for the sustainable development of the planet, but also empowers companies and communities to help address these challenges. As a global community we possess the resources and the know-how to meet all 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but we have to work collaboratively and quickly to forge the way ahead. I am grateful to the UN Secretary-General for the opportunity to continue to serve in support of this important objective,” said Enel CEO Francesco Starace.
The new “One Global Compact” governance: news and opportunities
In January 2018 the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) launched a new governance model called "One Global Compact". The UNGC’s aim is to strengthen its commitment to supporting companies all over the world in their integration of the Ten Principles into their strategies and operations and in their implementation of the 17 Goals envisaged by the 2030 Agenda.
In an uncertain international geopolitical context and in a world where extreme poverty and inequality persist and climate change has become an increasingly urgent emergency, the Global Compact is one of the real guiding lights for a more sustainable and secure world. The Ten Principles have never been more important, providing an ethical and corporate framework to help the private sector generate value, strengthening fundamental rights and principles.
The Italian Global Compact Network continues to grow: four new "Founding Members" joined in March
The Global Compact Network Italy currently has 40 members with "Founding Member" status. Of these, just over 30% are non-profit organizations, confirming the strongly multistakeholder nature of the UN’s Global Compact initiative.
The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) was set up as an initiative to spread corporate citizenship on a global scale, mainly aimed at companies. However, in order to stimulate comparison and interaction, participation in the UNGC is open to organizations of various kinds, such as, for example, civil society organizations, universities and research institutions, public institutions, as well as business associations.
From the activation of a multi-stakeholder dialogue to the implementation of profit/non-profit partnerships for sustainable development, there are numerous opportunities for synergy between the various actors participating in the Global Compact.
Currently, over 3,000 non-profit organizations support the initiative, working alongside companies to disseminate the 10 Principles of the Global Compact and the United Nations' Global Goals 2030. All stakeholder organizations participating in the UNGC are invited to take part in the work plans implemented by the Global Compact Local Networks in their respective national contexts.
Making Global Goals Local Business - Argentina
The event was organized by the United Nations Global Compact in collaboration with the Global Compact Network Argentina and brought together local and global leaders representing firms, civil society, governments, and the UN Global Compact local networks, with the aim of catalysing the action and impact on the 10 Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In view of the next global meeting - which will be held during the second half of the year and will be dedicated to a discussion on the progress made at national level on the implementation of the SDGs - Making Global Goals Local Business – Argentina represented an opportunity for firms all over the world to take an active part in sharing the current status recorded throughout Latin America with regard to the pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Argentina, in particular, is a good example of multi-stakeholder collaboration in support of the Global Goals, from which all those present were able to take insights and inspiration.
“Routes of sustainability”: 6th edition of “Salone CSR IS” (Corporate and Social Responsibility and Social Innovation Fair)
The 6th edition of the “Salone CSR IS” is being organised. The event - promoted by the Global Compact Network Italy together with Bocconi University, the CSR Manager Network, Unioncamere, the Sodalitas Foundation, and Koinètica - is the most highly anticipated event for those involved in sustainability and social innovation.
For the 2018 edition, the fair has expanded its presence in Italy taking place in 10 cities in its tour of Italy (Giro d’Italia della CSR): after Salerno, Turin, Udine, Rome, Perugia, Genoa and Florence, the “Salone” will be in Bologna, Cosenza and Verona until the end of May.
Call4Participants | Collective Actions for SDGs 2018 | Supply-Chain Sustainability & Circular Economy
Two Collective Actions aimed at promoting the United Nations Global Goals at national level are being launched by the Global Compact Network Italy this year.
While meeting in Lucca last September for the SDG Forum 2017 the actors and promoters of Italian sustainable development confirmed the importance of a synergistic and multi-stakeholder approach to the 2030 Agenda, and identified two priorities for action in:
- the promotion of sustainable supply chain management; and
- in the development of communication and innovation with reference to a circular approach to the economy.
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INFO & CONTACTS
Subscriptions to the Working Groups on Collective Actions will be limited. Therefore, we invite any interested persons to inform us as soon as possible and no later than February 23, 2018.
All applications for membership will be evaluated by the Board of Directors of GCNI.
For further information on the activities and to respond to the Call, please write to: Margherita Macellari (
From prioritisation to action: the GCNI collects the proposals of Collective Action formulated by sustainable development actors at the SDGs Forum 2017 (Lucca)
The second edition of the Italian Business & SDGs Annual Forum, promoted by the Global Compact Network Italy (here after GCNI), was held on 26th-27th September 2017 in the splendid medieval-Renaissance town of Lucca. The event was hosted by the Sofidel Group and organized with the support of A2A and Edison.
The activities began on the evening of 26th September, with a Networking Dinner reserved for participants in the Forum at the "San Colombano" restaurant, built in an old rampart of the old town walls. Before the dinner there was a cultural tour of the city and a visit to the "Giacomo Puccini Museum".
Outcomes from the 3rd Business & SDGs Workshop on “Sustainable Supply Chain Management Systems”
On 4th October 2017 the third of four Business & SDGs Workshops promoted by the Global Compact Network Italy (GCNI) was held in Milan to support the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Global Goals in Italy.
This third event, dedicated to the theme of "SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS", was organized on the occasion of one of the main national events in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility, the CSR and Social Innovation Exhibition, hosted at the Bocconi University of Milan.
The inclusion of sustainability issues in supply chain management activities implies a willingness on the part of organizations to measure, monitor and evaluate their performance taking into consideration the trade-off that exists between the economic, social and environmental dimensions, from the triple bottom line perspective. This approach allows firms to have an overall and strategic vision of the supply chain, which is capable of going beyond mere risk management.
GCNI and MAECI together for the SDGs: “The Sustainable Development Goals: Experiences and Progresses on Their Implementation in Europe” Conference Report
On 25th October 2017, the Global Compact Network Italy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), organized a Conference called “The Sustainable Development Goals: Experiences and Progresses on Their Implementation in Europe” held at Palazzo della Farnesina in Rome.
The main objective of this event was to hold a debate, among the members of the mixed panel of speakers and between them and the public present, on the policies and trends registered so far in the support of the 2030 Agenda in various sectors and at various levels, as well as on future opportunities in terms of launching new multi-stakeholder partnerships for the Global Goals.
“ITALIAN BUSINESSES: PRACTICES TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”. Presentation to the public of the collection of practices supporting SDGs 2030 by the Global Compact Network Italy
In December 2016, the Global Compact Network Italy (here in after GCNI) started working on a new collection of business practices focusing on the implementation of strategies, policies and projects to support the achievement of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
Since then, an intense and ongoing dialogue and research has been carried out involving 11 organizations belonging to the GCNI and has culminated in the publication of the Report “ITALIAN BUSINESSES: PRACTICES TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Following the path defined by the Sustainable Development Goals”.
Global Compact Network Italy chooses Bureau Veritas as Technical Partner for the TenP Platform
It was within the sphere of those companies that verify and select their suppliers and subcontractors on the basis of their sustainability performance that the agreement giving Bureau Veritas Italia the role of the operating branch of the Global Compact Network Italy (GCNI) was made.
The TenP Platform was developed by the GCNI Foundation to support companies involved in collecting, analyzing, and sharing information on their suppliers’ sustainability performance. It is based on an online self-assessment questionnaire, itself based on the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, taking into account the key international standards and conventions on business sustainability.
Conference "The SDGs: Experiences and Progresses on Their Implementation in Europe" (October 25th, Rome)
BACKGROUND
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), represents a culmination of more than four decades of multilateral dialogue and debate on tackling environmental, social and economic challenges faced by the world community. It is the most comprehensive and shared blueprint to date for eliminating extreme poverty, reducing inequality, and protecting the planet.
The 2030 Agenda is universal in scope and commits all countries, irrespective of their income levels and development status, to contribute towards a comprehensive effort towards sustainable development. It also calls for the participation of all segments of society to contribute to its implementation: governments, businesses and civil society actors are considered as equally responsible for progressing and achieve it.
The Sustainable Development Goals reflects many of the European Union's priorities for sustainable development. They pose a unique opportunity for Europe and its Member States to generate real sustainable impact towards an innovative, prosperous and inclusive society.
For this reason the EU is committed to be a frontrunner in implementing them both in its internal and external policies and many of its Member States and the European continent at large are proceeding in the same direction. Likewise, both business and civil society organizations in Europe have explicitly expressed their commitment towards the 2030 Agenda and its Goals and have already started to work on this direction.
3^ Business & SDGs Workshop: "Sustainable Supply Chain Management Systems: Comparative Experiences"
The inclusion of sustainability issues in Supply Chain Management activities implies the willingness of organizations to measure, monitor and evaluate their performance, taking into account the existing trade off between the economic, social and environmental dimensions from a triple bottom line (TBL) viewpoint. This approach allows companies to have a comprehensive, and above all, strategic vision of the Supply Chain: reducing supply and distribution costs; defining cooperation and coordination relationships with their suppliers; and improving customer satisfaction.
UNGC launches an "Anti-corruption Call-to-Action" and invites businesses around the world to participate
Eliminating corruption requires collective action by all stakeholders. By signing this Call to Action, you are not only encouraging governments to take action on corruption, you are also inspiring other companies to follow your lead.
"Business & SDGs" in university education plans: UNGC and PRME invite companies to sign the Open Letter to academic institutions
Demand for business and human rights education is growing worldwide. Academic institutions are well positioned to prepare future business leaders to manage the human rights impacts of their companies.
The UN Global Compact in collaboration with the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) are asking companies to sign an open letter calling on academic institutions to integrate business and human rights into their curriculum.
2nd edition "High Level Meeting": Report published about the debate between G. Kell, former General Director UNGC, and the Italian companies involved in the 2030 Agenda
The second edition of the “Business & SDGs High Level Meeting” was held at the Edison SpA headquarters in Milan on 18th May. It was sponsored by the GCNI Foundation as an opportunity to encourage a shared reflection at the highest level amongst prominent actors in the national sphere, regarding the role the private sector is called upon to play in support of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Agenda. People from the highest offices (Presidents, Managing Directors, Leading Managers) of large and medium-sized Italian companies from various production sectors, with a solid sustainability profile, met together around the table: A2A, AirPlus International, Alcantara, BNL – Gruppo BNP Paribas, Borsa Italiana, E&Y, Enel, Edison, Gruppo Hera, Saipem, Salini Impregilo.
2^ Business & SDGs Workshop: "Multistakeholder Partnerships as driver of the 2030 Agenda"
The second appointment of the "Business & SDGs Workshops" cycle promoted by the Global Compact Network Italy Foundation - as part of the 2017 Activities Program in support of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development - will be held on July 12th in Milan at the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Corso Magenta 63, from 1.30 pm to 5.00 pm. The meeting is organized in collaboration with Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei and Fondazione Sodalitas.
In pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda poses an unavoidable challenge: "to intensify multilateral partnerships that develop and share knowledge, skills, technological and financial resources" (SDG 17) into a collective action logic. Only through close collaboration between the different actors who are mutually and voluntarily engaged in innovative relationships to pursue shared goals is it possible to embark on an inclusive and sustainable growth program.
Multi-stakeholder partnerships have proven to be a strategic and essential tool in boosting the corporate world’s contribution to sustainable development. By putting together common skills and resources, they have created projects, actions and experiences of great value for the people and the needs that they aim to protect and promote.
What role should Finance play in implementing the UN 2030 Agenda? Expert opinions in an event promoted by the GCNI Foundation
On 18th May, the first of the four “Business & SDGs Workshops” to be promoted by the Global Compact Network Italy Foundation in 2017 was held in Milan, as part of the activities program aimed at supporting the implementation of United Nations 2030 Global Goals. This first event, dedicated to the theme of "Sustainable Finance in Support of SDGs", was organized together with UNEP Inquiry and kindly hosted by Edison SpA.
The Global Compact Network Italy Foundation together with companies, governments and International organizations for the “Climate Action”
The Global Compact Italy Foundation has joined the UNGC Action Platform "Pathways to Low-Carbon & Resilient Development" which was launched in March 2017 by the United Nations Global Compact with the dual purpose of providing support to the National Plans for the Paris Climate Agreement and specifically to promote the advancement of 3 of the 17 UN Global Goals: SDG7 – Affordable & Clean Energy, SDG9 – Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, SDG13 – Climate Action.
The UN Global Compact Leaders Summit returns in September
The world leaders in sustainability will be meeting again in New York on 21st September at the initiative of the United Nations Global Compact.
At the UNGC Leaders Summit 2017, particular attention will be paid to the theme of public private partnerships for achieving the 2030 Global Goals. A consideration shared at the highest level on the ways to ensure a wider, more meaningful and effective engagement of businesses, institutions and stakeholder organizations in global action for sustainable development will be promoted and developed within the Summit.
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