Sustainable development based on trust: Global Compact Turkey chair

NEW YORK

CİHAN photo

Global Impact Turkey Chairman Yılmaz Argüden has addressed the importance of trust in maintaining good governance and sustainable development in his speech at the United Nations headquarters on June 25. 

“U.N. Global Compact has been the most prominent actor in determining the corporate sustainability agenda. Today, nearly 100 [U.N.] Local Networks are designing and executing innovative and inclusive approaches. However, we have long road ahead of us for overcoming the global challenges. Trust is the foundation of good governance and sustainable development. All institutions should take responsibility in employing good governance practices and forming partnerships towards a more sustainable and inclusive future,” he said in a conference, which was organized to honor the U.N. Global Compact’s 15th anniversary. 

He noted that these local networks, termed Global Compact Local Networks, are key for the future of the sustainability movement. 

During the U.N. General Assembly session, global leaders such as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.N. General Assembly President Sam K. Kutesa, Nestle CEO Paul Bulcke, Unilever CEO Paul Polman, and Sinopec CEO Fu Chengyu also delivered speeches inviting business and civil society leaders to collaborate with the U.N. for overcoming universal challenges.

The sustainable development vision shared during the Global Compact +15 Conference included the U.N. global agenda for sustainable development, to be released later this year as the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The conference brought together over 1,000 representatives from Global Compact Local Networks, business, investors, academy, civil society, labor organizations and U.N. private sector organizations. 

Global Compact is defined as a call to companies to align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, while taking actions that advance societal goals. Global Compact’s vision of “sustainable and inclusive global economy” is the world’s largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative.

Global Compact Turkey, with its 304 signatories, is its 5th largest network in Europe and 11th largest in the world.