As the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) kicks off this week, USCIB and its global network are involved in a slate of conferences and programs focused around UN climate talks and the core of its Post-2015 Development Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to address development, lifestyle and equity issues through international commitments, finance and partnerships.
USCIB’s President and CEO Peter Robinson and Norine Kennedy, vice president for strategic international engagement, energy and environment, will attend the UN Climate Summit on Tuesday, September 23.
Tuesday, September 23
Employment and Decent Work for Inclusive and Sustainable Development
3:00 – 6:00p.m.
Ford Foundation
320 East 43rd Street
New York, NY
The International Labor Organization and the Ford Foundation will convene business executives, senior government officials and UN representatives to discuss how to create decent and productive jobs in the context of the UN’s development goals. Ariel Meyerstein, USCIB’s vice president for labor affairs, corporate responsibility and corporate governance, will be in attendance.
Bloomberg Government Briefing and Reception on Sustainable Business Practices
4:30 – 8:00p.m.
Bloomberg
731 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY
This briefing, presented by Bloomberg Government in partnership with USCIB, will review progress on the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, the Post-2015 Development Agenda and efforts to promote corporate sustainability more broadly. Amina Mohammed, special advisor to the UN secretary general on post-2015 development planning, will be among the speakers at the briefing, which is timed to coincide with the opening of the UN General Assembly and the UN Climate Summit. USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson and Louise Kantrow, ICC’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, will also give remarks. The event is underwritten by Accenture. Register for the event here.
Wednesday, September 24
Business Call to Action Annual Forum 2014
8:00a.m. – 7:00p.m
730 Third Avenue
New York, NY
The Business Call to Action’s fifth annual forum will bring together chief executives from prominent BCtA member companies as well as senior representatives from governments, bilateral donors, civil society and the United Nations. The forum will focus on sustaining the momentum of inclusive business in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, particularly in light of pressing issues such as climate change. The agenda includes a breakfast session, three plenary sessions, two breakout sessions and a closing reception. View the full agenda and registration info here.
Ensuring a Positive Contribution of Trade Policy to Climate Action towards COP 21
12:30 – 3:30p.m.
Yale Club
50 Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, NY
The International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development and the Guarini Center of NYU Law will convene a dialogue to explore the potential of the Environmental Goods Agreement negotiations to foster trade as a tool for enhancing climate action and to discuss how this could help support climate negotiations towards Lima and Paris. Invited Speakers include Ambassador Michael Froman, James Bacchus, Chair of ICC’s Trade and Investment Commission and Ann Condon, chair of USCIB’s Environment Committee. Register for the event here.
Business Consultation with UN Representatives of the Climate Technology Center and Network
4:30 – 6:15p.m.
Latham & Watkins
885 Third Avenue
New York, NY
Business representatives will meet with officials from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Climate Technology Center and Network to discuss current activities, projects and opportunities for private-sector engagement. Kindly RSVP to Kira Yevtukova (kyevtukhova@uscib.org).
Friday, September 26
Practical Private Sector Engagement in the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda
9:00a.m. – 4:00p.m.
Pfizer
235 East 42 Street
New York, NY
Business input is critical for the success of the United Nations’ Post-2015 Development Agenda. USCIB and ICC organized a “door knock” convening global business leaders and government representatives to discuss the private sector’s role in the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda. Business representatives will present concrete examples of the private sector’s diverse contributions to sustainable development and highlight the importance of creating the right enabling frameworks for the SDGs from the business perspective. Speakers will include Louise Kantrow, ICC’s permanent representative to the United Nations, George Kell, executive director of the UN Global Compact, and many representatives from USCIB member companies. To register, please contact Lea Felluss at (LFS@iccwbo.org) or Kira Yevtukhova at (kyevtukhova@uscib.org).
Related coverage of the UN and the environment:
USCIB Marshals Business Input for UN SDGs (July 22)
Coalition Endorses Environmental Goods Agreement(July 9)
USCIB Attends 1st UN Environment Assembly(June 30)
USCIB Delivers Business Views at Climate Talks(June 5)
Staff contact: Norine Kennedy and Ariel Meyerstein
