Baker McKenzie Joins Business Leaders To Accelerate Action At UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2021.

Leading global law firm Baker McKenzie will join global leaders at the United Nations’ largest corporate sustainability event, which aims to accelerate business collective action to recover from the pandemic and rebuild a just, equitable, and resilient society. In addition, as part of the Firm’s co-patronage of the UN Global Compact Action Platform for Peace Justice and Strong Institutions, Baker McKenzie's Chief Sustainability Officer Alyssa Auberger will moderate a panel session entitled "The Road to Transformational Governance: Launching the Business Framework for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions."

During this panel session, speakers from the other co-patrons will discuss the UN's recently launched SDG 16 Business Framework: Inspiring Transformational Governance tool, which has been developed to help business understand what transformational governance means and how business can accelerate action on the governance element (G) in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues to strengthen business culture, ethics and performance and support public institutions, laws and systems. 

Commenting on the event, Alyssa said, "As a Firm, we believe that lasting, impactful change is only possible when business, government, civil society and local communities come together to share expertise, knowledge and resources. We are proud to be co-patrons of the UN Global Compact Action Platform for Peace Justice and Strong Institutions. I look forward to moderating the panel and to be playing an important role in discussing how the SDG 16 Business Framework is intended to guide companies to advance transformational governance in their own organizations, and raise ambition in expanding the "G" in ESG as a driver to responsible and sustainable business practices."

“The COVID-19 pandemic and converging crises – including climate change, economic uncertainty, social inequality and disinformation – have shown that businesses do not operate independently of wider society. Businesses can and must play their part in promoting ethical leadership and building trust between public and private institutions and civil society. This Framework guides companies on the journey to transformational governance, moving beyond compliance to become advocates for the principles of peace, justice and strong institutions,” said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact.

The UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 21 will gather over 20,000 leaders from business, government, the United Nations and civil society on June 15-16 to address the converging global crises of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, worsening social and economic inequality and corruption, and offer a roadmap for a sustainable recovery. You can register to attend here.