UN Global Compact Issues Call for New Era in "Environmental Stewardship"
(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed)New York, NY - 22 June 2010 - The UN Global Compact Office today announced the release of a next-generation Environmental Stewardship Strategy, stating that the environmental challenges and risks of the 21st century will demand a new level of performance by companies wishing to be sustainability leaders.
"It is increasingly clear that traditional environmental management approaches will not be sufficient to successfully navigate and address the range of environmental issues companies confront", said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. "The Environmental Stewardship Strategy is designed to assist companies in embracing, and implementing, a larger environmental philosophy – one that sees companies as key stewards of the environment, and one that links business success and environmental sustainability".
Developed in partnership with Duke University, and in consultation with a group of UN Global Compact participating companies, the Environmental Stewardship Strategy is grounded in the three core environmental principles of the Global Compact, and leverages the Global Compact's Caring for Climate and CEO Water Mandate initiatives. The Strategy incorporates a continuous-improvement management model, and connects this model to four key dimensions of leadership: "Embed", "Balance", "Diffuse", and "Translate".
The Environmental Stewardship Strategy also calls for greater environmental oversight by companies' Boards of Directors as well as implementation throughout the entire value chain. Further, the Strategy encourages companies to undertake responsible and accountable engagement in public policy discussions. Finally, the Strategy recognizes the growing links between environmental issues and social and development priorities.
The Environmental Stewardship Strategy will be shared at the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit on 24-25 June in New York City, when a related website resource and CD-ROM will also be released.
"It is our sincere hope that the Environmental Stewardship Strategy will give greater meaning to the Global Compact's core environmental principles, and that over time companies will contribute their experiences and emerging practices so that the Strategy evolves and remains at the cutting-edge of positive change", said Mr. Kell.
- Click here to access the Environmental Stewardship Strategy
- Download Environmental Stewardship Strategy Publication
UNGC7559
