United Nations Global Compact to Engage Young Business Professionals in Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, February 1, 2019 /3BL Media/ — The United Nations Global Compact today announced two initiatives to engage young business professionals in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN Global Compact Young SDG Innovators Programme will activate future business leaders to rethink the business models of their companies by guiding them through a series of action learning workshops and providing them opportunities to access and apply learnings from global leaders on the SDGs and innovation.

“We are excited to help young professionals innovate new business solutions to address today’s global challenges,” said Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact at the launch of the programme in Denmark. “This new programme provides a unique platform for young business leaders to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and contribute to shaping the sustainable businesses of the future."

The Young SDG Innovators Programme will be kicked off by Global Compact Network Denmark and implemented by Global Compact Local Networks in nearly a dozen countries around the world this year. It will create a global network of future business leaders equipped to design the businesses of the future and help large and small companies unlock new opportunities while delivering on the SDGs.

Also announced today, is the annual search for UN Global Compact SDG Pioneers — business leaders who are using business as a force for good to advance the SDGs. Recognizing the creativity and innovative perspectives that many young business leaders can bring and the passion for sustainability that is characterizing the younger generations, the UN Global Compact will this year focus the search on young business leaders under the age of 35.

The Young SDG Innovators Programme and the 2019 SDG Pioneers programme are both supported by the Tuborg Foundation and launched today in Copenhagen at an event organized by Global Compact Network Denmark and the Tuborg Foundation.

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About the United Nations Global Compact
As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact works with companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact guides and supports the global business community in advancing UN goals and values through responsible corporate practices. With more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 70 Local Networks, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world.

For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at www.unglobalcompact.org.

About the Young SDG Innovators Programme
The UN Global Compact Young SDG Innovators Programme engages young professionals from companies participating in the UN Global Compact around the world to learn how to use the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a catalyst for the development of new products and services. Participants will learn from each other and collaborate with thought leaders in a series of interactive workshops and educational opportunities.

Join the conversation on social media using #youngSDGinnovators.
 

About the SDG Pioneers Programme

As part of its Making Global Goals Local Business campaign, each year the UN Global Compact recognizes a class of SDG Pioneers — business leaders working at any level of a company, who are using business as a force for good to advance the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG Pioneers play an important role to draw attention to the SDGs and in how the UN Global Compact is empowering businesses to advance them. In 2019, the UN Global Compact will recognize at least five young professionals (35 and under) working at any level in a UN Global Compact participating company who are advancing the SDGs through their work. The search in Denmark was kicked off today and will be initiated in Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Croatia, Egypt, Georgia, Kenya, Lebanon, Netherlands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UK and USA in the coming weeks. A global round starting in May will culminate in the selection of around six global SDG Pioneers who will be recognized during the UN General Assembly high-level week in New York in September 2019.

Join the conversation on social media using #SDGpioneers.