Sustainability conference highlights fight for climate action

The GRI conference on sustainability and transparency took place on the 7th May in Amsterdam. Bringing together 148 speakers and over 1,000 participants from 58 countries, the conference encouraged dialogue between several sectors with participants representing business, financial markets, civil society, labor, governments and municipalities.

A diverse mixture of regions was also represented. While 70% of the participants were from Europe, over 100 were from North America, 45 were from the Middle East and 160 participants originated from 21 developing countries.

The event was a great success with climate change forming a substantial part of the agenda. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan announced the formation of the Arab Sustainability Leadership Group (ASLG), the first of its kind from the region to commit to sustainability and reporting. The ASLG will encourage businesses to balance profit with environmental protection, and equal opportunity. Al Abdullah also appealed to the audience of global business leaders to make Arab youth part of their social equity agenda..

Awards were presented for sustainability reporting. Winners included Brazil, Spain, India, Argentina, Russia and Greece. On announcing the GRI Readers Choice Awards, Chief Executive, Ernst Ligteringen said, "People want to know how the companies the buy from, invest in and work for are addressing the pressing issues of today. They are taking note of those who are providing the best information, and rewarding them."

"It is heartening to us that so many new voices have been heard. They are rightly proud of those companies and groups who are leading with transparency and accountability in their region", said Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel, chair of the Readers Choice Awards and former and Assistant Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

The Climate Action film crew were also part of the conference; filming Climate Leader interviews with Ernst Ligteringen, CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative, Georg Kell - Executive Director, UN Global Compact, Mindy S. Lubber, President of Ceres and Lynette Thorstensen - Communications Director, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

The interviews will be online later this month in time for World Environment Day on June the 5th. They offer some great pointers from these thought leaders on the necessity for business action against climate change, and practical steps towards more energy efficient working as well as opinions on the current global situation.


Sources: Csr Newswire
Sustainable Business.com