The two-day event was graced by guests of honour Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance, and Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment & Ministry of Manpower.
Senior leaders from public and private sector organisations participated in several plenary and fireside chats at this year’s event, covering key topics such as development finance and workplace diversity.
Themed “Forward Faster: Accelerating Corporate Action for Sustainable Development,” the 16th UN GCNS Summit provided a vital platform for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and action aimed at advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region, emphasising that purpose and profit can work in harmony.
“We are pleased to share that, in Asia alone, over 300 companies across numerous sectors have already pledged their support for the ‘Forward Faster’ initiative,” said Dr. Bicky Bhangu, President, UN GCNS.
The Forward Faster initiative offers a strategic framework that drives progress while creating meaningful change, ensuring long-term resilience and competitiveness for businesses across Southeast Asia.
Revamped Carbon Emissions Reduction Tool (CERT)
UN GCNS has also launched a revamped version of its CERT programme. This second iteration of the programme will be one of the first tools to use the new Singapore Emissions Factors, which are being launched almost simultaneously.
The upgraded platform, which is aligned with GHG Protocol, ISO14064-1 will allow for faster submissions, expanded accessibility, and an enhanced user experience. Altogether, this upgraded version of CERT is set to accelerate carbon emission reductions by Singaporean companies.
Forward Faster report
UN GCNS unveiled its landmark report, “Forward Faster: Guiding Companies Towards Decisive Action for 2030”, developed in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group.
Aligned with the various SDGs, the report includes both qualitative and quantitative insights from 50 senior leaders sourced at a roundtable in July this year which touched on five critical issues: climate action; gender equality; living wages; water security; and financing the green transition.
Singapore Apex Corporate Sustainability Awards 2024
The two-day event concluded with the Apex Awards and a gala dinner, celebrating leaders in sustainability and highlighting some of the most innovative sustainable solutions in the country.
The Awards, now in their 9th year running, saw a record-breaking 130 nominations across three categories: Sustainable Business; Sustainable Solutions; and the LowCarbonSG Award. The Sustainable Business category honours companies which excel in integrating sustainability into their operations, while the Sustainable Solutions category recognises those developing innovative products or services to meet sustainability needs. The LowCarbonSG Award, now in its second year, celebrates businesses that have reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by at least 5 per cent over the past 24 months through significant efforts or investments.
The complete list of this year’s award winners is outlined in the appendix. Registration for the 2025 Apex Awards will open from 7 October 2024.
This year’s UN GCNS Summit and Apex Awards saw a total of around 600 participants over two days and was held at One Farrer Hotel.
About UN Global Compact Network Singapore (UN GCNS)
UN Global Compact Network Singapore (UN GCNS) is the local chapter of the United Nations Global Compact. As the leading voice on corporate sustainability, UN GCNS drives multi-stakeholder action to forge a more sustainable future, founded on the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals. Through various platforms and partnerships, UN GCNS advances the stewardship of sustainable business practices and Singapore’s national agenda of becoming a regional sustainable business hub. For more information about UN GCNS, please visit: https://unglobalcompact.sg/.
About the UN Global Compact Network Singapore Summit 2024
With climate change and nature loss, the momentum for mandatory Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting is growing in intensity. The roles and responsibilities of businesses are changing, making a just transition to a more sustainable business model a necessity to achieve Net Zero by 2050. Themed “Forward Faster: Accelerating Corporate Action for Sustainable Development”, the event will host Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance as the Guest of Honour, alongside distinguished industry leaders and sustainability experts. For more information about the GCNS Summit 2024, please visit: https://summit.unglobalcompact.sg/.
About Singapore Apex Corporate Sustainability Awards 2024
Organised by UN GCNS, the Singapore Apex Corporate Sustainability Awards is the most prestigious form of recognition for companies in Singapore on corporate sustainability. The Awards recognise companies whose business operations or solutions have demonstrated excellence in embodying the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact, in the areas of environment, human rights, labour and anti-corruption. The Awards also recognise companies attaining the triple bottom line. To learn more about the Singapore Apex Corporate Sustainability Awards, please visit: https://apexawards.unglobalcompact.sg/.
About the CDL-GCNS Young SDG Leader’s Award
Jointly organised by City Developments Limited (CDL) and UN Global Compact Network Singapore (UN GCNS), this annual case competition offers young people a platform to champion sustainable development and SDG integration into business for positive change. Previously known as the CDL- GCNS Young CSR Leaders Award, the competition has nurtured over 2,400 young leaders since inception in 2011. By aligning with the global goals for sustainable development, the Award seeks to educate and empower young leaders with SDG knowledge and skills, while inspiring companies in Singapore to take concrete actions for the SDGs. To find out more about the CDL and GCNS Young SDG Leader’s Award, please visit: https://youngsdgleaders.com/.
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