Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) together with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) and the UN Country Team Thailand joined together to host important discussions among sustainability leaders across Southeast Asia at the UNGC Leaders Summit 2022, attended by over 10,000 multi-sector partners around the world.
The Global Compact Network Association of Thailand (GCNT), together with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) and the UN Country Team Thailand, co-hosted the “UNGC Leaders Summit 2022: Sustainability in Asean” to drive sustainability on the global stage stimulated by sustainability leaders from business, civil society, Government and Global Compact Local Networks in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.
This year's #LeadersSummit, inspired and catalysed local and regional solutions for advancing policies that not only drive economic growth but accelerate progress towards the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement in the Asean region with the live broadcasts from Thailand going around the world to over 10,000 attendees.
“The ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN), comprising representatives of the private sector from the Asia-Pacific region, has adopted the Asia Pacific Green Deal for Business Declaration as a roadmap for companies to take the lead on climate action,” observed the Under-Secretary-General of United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), H.E. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana in her opening remarks. “Through this Green Deal, ESBN will lead private sector sustainability efforts to accelerate a green transformation in the region.”
Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact, spoke about the current challenges. “Today the world is still struggling to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic – a battle that will only be won when vaccines reach everyone and remedy the disruptions in the global economy,” he said. “Earlier this year, IPCC published its gloomiest report yet, warning that time is no longer on our side to prevent a climate change catastrophe. And on top of these disasters, the war in Ukraine is posing a direct systemic and persistent threat to global security on three fronts: food, energy and human. In times such as these, business is called upon to act. But there is some reason for optimism: we are seeing businesses taking action, providing solutions, forming coalitions of the willing. Nevertheless, there is still more that needs to be done, particularly with regards to mobilizing the financing and investments required for delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Mr Noppadol Dej-Udom, Chief Sustainability Officer of Charoen Pokphand Group and Secretary General, Global Compact Network Thailand announced that, "The UN Global Compact was set up to direct the power of business as a force for good. It started with the recognition that businesses have contributed significantly to create and intensify most of the world’s major problems: climate change, biodiversity loss, air and water pollution, inequality, and violations of human rights.”
“At the same time,” he continued, “businesses possess the resources and capabilities to help solve these problems. As business leaders, we must shoulder the responsibility of not only addressing our own negative impacts on environment and society, or the ‘do no harm’ approach, but also go further to utilise our energy and expertise to actively help solve those problems."
Ms. Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, Secretary-General of the Security and Exchange Commission Thailand, said, “As the Thai capital market regulator, the SEC is committed to promoting the development of sustainable investment climate and responsible investment in line with the UN SDGs. In so doing, we aim to enhance competitiveness, ensure inclusiveness, and strengthen trust and confidence in the Thai capital market. We also seek to increase the knowledge and the sense of ownership of the SDGs with support from the government, businesses, and international organisations. We are driving all our efforts to build the capital market as a key engine for restructuring and digitizing the Thai economy. We believe our continuing efforts will help the economy adapt to the changing landscape and be recognised in the international arena.”
The meeting began with the SDG Ambitions Session discussing the importance and value of defining and integrating SDGs through supply chain operations. Especially in the past two years, due to the coronavirus situation, plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions have required technology, investment, collaboration, and commitment from top management. In other words, the cost of not initiating anything. The value is higher than the adjustment required to address each industry’s specific problems.
Gloyta Nathalang, Executive Vice President, Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited, told the gathering that, “One of the Thai business leaders who shared their vision and goals of the organisation in this session said that it was a great opportunity to exchange experiences and learn about the Sustainable Development Goals from business leaders from other countries in the Asean region. Everyone agreed that there must be clear, achievable goals and the importance must be understood at all levels, directors, executives, employees and business stakeholders. UNGC has the SDG Ambition Guide and SDG Tools that make it easier to set clear goals and follow up. Moreover, cooperation with various partners is important. For instance, Bangchak Group set targets for carbon neutrality in 2030 and net zero in 2050 which it is unable to achieve on its own. Therefore, the principle of “Leading Inclusively” is applied to all stakeholders to achieve the goals together.”
The following session was on Asean SMEs. Here SME leaders discussed the integration of sustainability in SME operations so they could contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals and unlock market opportunities. It starts with understanding and motivational benefits and continues with enhancing knowledge and concrete examples, such as using customer pain points as ideas to develop possible solutions to reach the new generation. Finally, there must be a network or ecosystem, which will allow exchanges of knowledge and easy cooperation leading to new business opportunities and sustainable growth.
The afternoon session started with three key sustainability agendas: climate emergency, biodiversity and social development. The discussions began looking at how businesses are dealing with climate change and preserving biodiversity as two sides of the same crisis. It was noted that it is important that the crises be addressed in an integrated manner. The meeting ended with a focus on the issue of Social Sustainability. Here the discussions centred around trends in social investment which will see businesses increase their investment and commitment to social sustainability issues as never before, in the process creating thriving communities and ecosystems.
Mr.Peerapong Krinchai, Executive Vice President, Corporate Engineering, CPF Thailand, shared that, “CPF is moving towards cost-effective rotation of natural resources throughout the value chain and zero greenhouse gas emissions. We are doing this by developing standards for sustainable sourcing of raw materials throughout the supply chain. We have set a goal that by 2030, the procurement of 100% of key agricultural raw materials must be traceable and come from areas without deforestation or degradation of biodiversity. Moreover, CPF has upgraded its data management to connect to the manufacturing process with blockchain technology to make traceability faster and more accurate.
Mrs. Gita Sabharwal the UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, closed the meeting saying, “The private sector will play an important role in supporting the country's aspirations on climate change and promoting biodiversity over the next five years under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).”
Taken as a whole, UNGC Leaders Summit 2022: sustainability in Asean underscored the region’s role as a torch-bearer for ‘building back better, together’ across the Asia-Pacific.