Mr. MacDonald, Chair of Principles for Responsible Investment,
Mr. Clements-Hunt, Head of the UNEP Finance Initiative,
Mr. Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact,
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to be invited to speak to you today. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the dedication of so many people in arranging this highly meaningful event.
The United Nations Global Compact, the United Nations Environment Programme - Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI) and the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) are widely recognized as the United Nations’ three leading public-private partnerships. In the past, the United Nations’ activities were confined to relations among nations and it was somewhat difficult to relate these activities to our daily lives.
However, starting from the launch of the UN Global Compact in 2000, collaboration between the United Nations and the private sector witnessed much progress. The United Nations began to establish partnerships with the private sector, and this was soon followed by a merge between the UNEP Financial Institutions Initiative, the UNEP Insurance Industry Initiative in 2003 and the launch of the PRI in 2006.
The past few years have proved that the United Nations has been very successful in strengthening its relations with the private sector. When the UN Global Compact was launched in July 2000, a mere 47 companies were a part of it. Now, the number of signatories has reached over 5,000 in approximately 120 countries. The growth of the PRI and UNEP-FI has also been equally astonishing. The PRI initiative has gathered more than 300 signatories, and approximately 160 financial institutions are part of the UNEP-FI.
Through these partnerships, investors and businessmen across the globe have voluntarily taken part in fulfilling the vision of the United Nations with a particular focus on issues related to human rights, anti-corruption and the environment among others.
The UN Global Compact, PRI and UNEP-FI have produced excellent results in implementing the core values of the United Nations. For example, in June 2007, the UNEP-FI launched the "Declaration on Climate Change by the Financial Services Sector". This declaration was particularly significant as it was the first global statement on climate change made by the finance sector.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Global agendas such as climate change, human rights, anti-corruption, and development are receiving renewed attention in the United Nations.
While serving as the President of the 56th session of the UN General Assembly during 2001-2002, I recall discussions on these issues being galvanized in several occasions such as the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002.
Likewise, more and more investors and corporations are taking up corporate social responsibility (CSR) through addressing these global issues. Asia cannot be an exception. In the past, CSR was perceived as a Western initiative. However, the Asian region has come to realize that we cannot sustain our rapid economic growth without enhancing governance and transparency. Against this backdrop, the Asian region is becoming more and more engaged in promoting CSR.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we live in the era of globalization, the challenges that we face today are too complex and interconnected for any one sector to face alone. As today’s global challenges require a collective response, it is important that these challenges should not be overlooked by the corporations and investors.
There is no doubt that the influence and impact of corporations on global issues will continue to grow. In this light, the partnership among the United Nations, governments, and the private sector will become increasingly important.
Investors and businessmen should play a central role in dealing with various global issues, most of which are the results of market failures. For example, the private sector’s role is an indispensible piece to combat climate change called the greatest market failure the world has ever seen. While joining in collective efforts against climate change, corporations themselves can also benefit from their own efforts to lay out the structure of a low-carbon economy and promote sustainable and renewable energy.
Through the efforts of the UN Global Compact, PRI and UNEP-FI, business practices that are rooted in universal principles can serve as a catalyst in achieving social and economic inclusion in the global marketplace, ultimately advancing the United Nations’ collective goals of international cooperation, peace and development.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am confident that today’s event will provide an invaluable opportunity for all of you to exchange your views and ideas on where we are and what we can do for a sustainable economy in Asia.
I also firmly believe that the outcomes of this conference will become the soil in which the fruits of sustainable economic development will be reaped.
Thank you.
이 누리집은 대한민국 공식 전자정부 누리집입니다.
