MEDIA ADVISORY: Adapting for a Green Economy Report Launch

The United Nations Building (credit: Steve Cadman/Flickr Commons

How Will Companies Adapt to a Changing Climate?

The UN Global Compact in cooperation with UN Environment Programme, Oxfam and the World Resources Institute invite you to the launch of the Caring for Climate report entitled “Adapting for a Green Economy: Companies, Communities, and Climate Change”.

The event, to be held in conjunction with the annual Global Compact Board Meeting, will bring together representatives from government, the UN, business and civil society to support the efforts leading up to Rio+20. The launch will explore the nexus between climate change risks and opportunities, sustainable development and climate change adaptation.

Panel discussion followed by a cocktail reception.

When:
Monday, 20 June 2011 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Where:
UN Millennium Plaza Hotel 1 UN Plaza, 44th Street, 28th Floor – Riverview Room New York, NY 10017

Who:
* Mr. Georg Kell, Executive Director, UN Global Compact
* Mr. Munyaradzi Chenje, Head of Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, UNEP
* Mr. Raymond C. Offenheiser, President, Oxfam America
* Ms. Janet Ranganathan, Senior Vice President of Science & Research; Member, Executive Leadership Team, World Resources Institute

Why:
When world leaders gathered at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro twenty years ago to sign the first global agreement to tackle climate change, the impacts of climate change on communities and economies were just beginning to be understood, and the role of the private sector in responding to these challenges was only just emerging. But two decades later, climate change is no longer a distant threat looming on the horizon; it has emerged as arguably the greatest global challenge of our time.

And while much of the responsibility to drive climate change solutions that address the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable rests with governments, it has become increasingly clear that business will be an essential partner in preparing for and responding to the impacts of a changing climate and in building a global green economy.

This publication aims to support the efforts leading up to UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012, as well as the activities, processes, commitments and partnerships that flow from it. Drawing on the results of a 2010 survey of corporate signatories to the UN Global Compact and the UN Environment Programme Caring for Climate initiative, as well as on existing literature, “Adapting for a Green Economy” makes the business case for private sector adaptation to climate change in ways that build the resilience of vulnerable communities in developing countries – and provides useful guidance to business leaders and policymakers alike.

Media:
RSVP by Sunday, 19 June 2011 to media@unglobalcompact.org.